The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-02-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the ownership of (a) Richmond House and (b) Wellington House under an Islamic bond has affected any activity of his Department.
Jane Ellison
The Department’s activity has not been affected by the establishment of an Islamic bond on its premises in Richmond House and Wellington House.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-02-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the report of the independent cancer taskforce, Achieving world class cancer outcomes: A strategy for England 2015-2020, published in July 2015, what progress NHS England has made in putting a mandate in place to ensure that GPs have direct access to key investigative tests for suspected cancers.
Jane Ellison
The Independent Cancer Taskforce’s five-year strategy Achieving World-class Cancer Outcomes A Strategy for England 2015-2020 recommends improvements across the cancer pathway, including improved access to investigative testing.
We have already announced funding of up to £300 million a year by 2020 to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the new target that patients will be given a definitive cancer diagnosis, or the all clear, within 28 days of being referred by a general practitioner (GP). The NHS National Cancer Director has set up a new Cancer Transformation Board to lead the roll-out of the recommendations of the new strategy, and a Cancer Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Harpal Kumar, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, will oversee and scrutinise their work.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Suspected cancer: recognition and referral guideline which was published in June 2015 includes recommendations regarding when GPs should refer patients for direct access investigative tests. NHS England expects clinical commissioning groups to enable GPs to follow the guideline.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to reduce the amount of litter on Network Rail’s land; and if he will make a statement.
Claire Perry
This is an operational matter for Network Rail, but I acknowledge the Honourable Member’s concerns and note the size of Network Rail’s estate. I have been informed by Network Rail that it has policies on litter removal that are consistent with current legislation and that it already takes all practicable measures within its resources.
In cases where litter is on operational land, removal may only be dealt with when lines are closed for other maintenance activity, to avoid inconvenience to passengers and compromising safety. The company also prioritises litter clearance based on safety.
Network Rail has a 24 hour National Helpline on 08457 11 41 41, whose remit includes handling requests from local authorities and the public, to clear line-side areas.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-03-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve the systems for capturing, coding and integrating data from NHS outpatient clinics.
George Freeman
Where local National Health Service trusts have identified local requirements for improving the capture of clinical and administrative information, including those in outpatient departments, funds have been made available to NHS providers for electronic systems through the Integrated Digital Care Fund and the South Local Clinical Systems Programmes. These include patient administration, patient record, and document management systems which will help the recording and accessing data at the point of care.
The National Information Board’s Personalised Health and Care 2020 framework, published in November 2014, supports further action to improve systems for capturing, coding and integrating data from NHS outpatient departments.
Work being taken forward under Personalised Health and Care 2020 includes:
― improving the recording and accessing of data at the point of care – around £1.4 billion of the recently announced £4.2 billion investment in NHS technology over the next five years will support the better collection of data and the commitment to become paper-free at the point of care;
― work to examine ways in which outpatient departments can improve the way they capture activity data using standardised coding terminology (SNOMED CT), so that it can be made available to other parts of a hospital, and support reporting and clinical audit; and
― a focus on the integration of information within and between care settings, starting with impatient transfers of care, and expanding in 2017-18 to cover other care domains, including the exchange of outpatient information between acute trusts and general practitioner surgeries.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when those parts of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 which have not come into force are expected to come into force.
Karen Bradley
We expect to commence the Psychoactive Substances Act in its entirety in the spring. We need to ensure the readiness of all the activity necessary to enable the smooth implementation of the legislation across the UK and to support law enforcement in their ability to drive forward the legislation on commencement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of deaths in England caused by malnutrition in each of the last 10 years.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey data is being used in the development of the Childhood Obesity Strategy.
Jane Ellison
The Childhood Obesity Strategy will draw from a range of the latest data and evidence, including from Public Health England and other partners.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to extend the 28-day eviction notice period for care home residents.
Alistair Burt
There are no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to extend the 28 day eviction notice period for care home residents. Periods of notice for care home residents will depend on the terms of agreements and/or contracts between providers and purchasers or commissioners of care, which are for negotiation locally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-05-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what methodology and data NHS England plans to use to determine which services it will commission at the specialised commissioning prioritisation process in June 2016.
George Freeman
The Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) will agree recommendations as to which proposals for new investments in specialised services should be considered by NHS England in the prioritisation round for 2016/17. CPAG is scheduled to meet between 6 and 9 June 2016.
NHS England is currently considering the outcome of a public consultation that it held between April and May 2016 on a proposed method for the relative prioritisation of new investments in specialised services. The consultation guide that it published described the proposed method and the types of data that would be considered. Many detailed submissions were made by respondents to consultation, and they will all be carefully considered. NHS England is expecting to make a decision on the eventual method that will be adopted for 2016/17 in May 2016.
The consultation guide can be found at the following address:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-06-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) capacity of and (b) skills and knowledge of local mainstream advice and advocacy services in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham health authority area to be able to meet the support needs of local people living with HIV following implementation of the proposed reduction in specialist HIV support services.
Jane Ellison
Support services for people living with HIV are commissioned by local authorities.
We are advised by NHS England that the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham are currently consulting on a new service model, under which advice and advocacy, counselling and assessment and signposting services for people living with HIV would be provided by local non-HIV specialist services.
We understand that the consultation exercise commenced on 9 May 2016 and is due to end on 28 June.