Tag: David Simpson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what change there has been in access to prostate cancer treatments since 2012.

George Freeman

Since April 2013, NHS England has been the responsible commissioner for chemotherapy and radiotherapy services, together with a number of specialist surgical services, which include some complex urology and colorectal cancer surgeries. Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for the diagnostic pathway and some surgeries for both colorectal and urological cancers.

NHS England routinely commissions a range of anti-cancer drug treatments for both colorectal and prostate cancer. These are drug indications that have either been recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal guidance, or have been considered as routine practice in the treatment of these cancers for many years.

NICE is the independent body that assesses the clinical and cost-effectiveness of treatments for routine use in the National Health Service. NICE has recommended the following treatments for prostate cancer through its technology appraisal process since 1 January 2012:

– abiraterone (Zytiga) for castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen; and

– enzalutamide (Xtandi) for metastatic hormone‑relapsed prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel‑containing regimen.

NICE is in the process of appraising the following treatments:

– sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for the first line treatment of metastatic hormone relapsed prostate cancer;

– degarelix depot (Firmagon) for treating advanced hormone dependent prostate cancer;

– enzalutamide for treating metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer not previously treated with chemotherapy; and

– radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo) for hormone relapsed prostate cancer with bone metastases.

NICE is currently reviewing technology appraisal guidance on cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix) for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and expects to publish updated final guidance on these treatments in April 2016.

In addition to routinely commissioned treatments, the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) provides access to other treatments that would not normally be available.

From April 2013, NHS England assumed operational responsibility for the CDF. As of 19 January 2015, the following drugs are available through the national CDF list for the treatment of prostate cancer:

– abiraterone;

– cabazitaxel (Jevtana);

– enzalutamide; and

– radium-223 dichloride.

Cabizitaxel is due to be removed from the national CDF list on 12 March 2015.

The following drugs are also available through the national CDF list for the treatment of colorectal cancer:

– aflibercept (Zaltrap);

– bevacizumab (Avastin);

– cetuximab; and

– panitumumab.

Aflibercept, bevacizumab as a first-line treatment and cetuximab as a second- or third-line treatment with combination chemotherapy are due to be removed from the national CDF list on 12 March 2015.

Since April 2013, there has been progress in meeting the Government’s commitment to increase patient access to inverse planned Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). The success of this planned expansion of access is demonstrated in the increased number of IMRT episodes (patients), which has risen from just over 8,500 per year in 2012-13 to a projected figure of over 25,000 in 2014-15 of which around 40% of these patients are treated with IMRT for prostate cancer.

NHS England has not altered the service specification or published any commissioning policies which have altered those colorectal cancer surgical services that fall within the remit of specialised commissioning.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government plans to take to support newly-qualified teachers in seeking employment.

Mr David Laws

The Department for Education has reformed initial teacher training so that schools can now play a much greater part in selecting and training new teachers, ensuring that they are well prepared for life in the classroom.

Newly qualified teachers working in the maintained school sector are entitled to a period of statutory induction, which helps to build a bridge between their initial training and a career in teaching. In 2014, the annual newly qualified teachers survey reported that 94% of both primary and secondary trainees rated their induction experience as helpful.

Overall, teacher vacancy rates remain very low (vacancy rate of 0.2% as of November 2013). The Government provides access, through the gov.uk portal, to the ‘Universal Jobmatch’ website, which helps teachers (amongst others) to identify appropriate vacancies. Schools and local authorities (in the maintained sector) are responsible for recruiting their staff and it is their responsibility to select the teacher they consider is best for the post available.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in 2014.

Jane Ellison

The latest data currently available is for cancer diagnoses in 2012.

In 2012 there were 85 cases of Ewing’s sarcoma diagnosed in England, of which 59 were Ewing’s sarcoma of the bone, and 26 were extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma (i.e. soft tissue).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on preventing unhealthy eating among children of primary school age.

Jane Ellison

No recent formal discussions with Department for Education (DfE) Ministers have taken place on preventing unhealthy eating among children of primary school age.

Department of Health and DfE Ministers have discussed the issue informally and officials meet regularly to discuss progress on delivering of the School Food Plan.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional support her Department is providing for Royal Navy personnel assisting with the aftermath of the Caribbean tsunami.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The Royal Navy is not responding to a tsunami in the Caribbean.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which high-speed rail projects are planned to be completed in 2015.

Mr Robert Goodwill

In 2015 we expect the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill for HS2 Phase One to continue its progress through Parliament. We will continue to review and refine proposals for the Phase Two route from West Midlands to Manchester, Leeds and beyond to ensure they bring the best solution in terms of connectivity and economic growth for the regions. Any further announcements and decisions on the Phase Two route are currently expected to be made in 2015 but could come later.

It is also expected that in 2015 we will commence ground investigation works enabled by the HS2 Preparation Bill (2013).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the outcomes were of her visit to New York and Washington in February 2015 to brief US administration representatives on the progress of the Stormont House Agreement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

I updated a number of key figures in the US Administration, in Congress and in the Irish-American community on the Stormont House Agreement. It is evident from these meetings that there is strong US support for the Agreement, and ongoing interest in its implementation, including the devolution of corporation tax powers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which high-speed rail projects are planned to commence in 2015.

Mr Robert Goodwill

In 2015 we expect the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill for HS2 Phase One to continue its progress through Parliament. We will continue to review and refine proposals for the Phase Two route from West Midlands to Manchester, Leeds and beyond to ensure they bring the best solution in terms of connectivity and economic growth for the regions. Any further announcements and decisions on the Phase Two route are currently expected to be made in 2015 but could come later.

It is also expected that in 2015 we will commence ground investigation works enabled by the HS2 Preparation Bill (2013).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the use of renewable energy in Northern Ireland.

Amber Rudd

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State met with the Northern Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Arlene Foster on 2 February. They discussed the future of the renewable electricity support scheme in Northern Ireland.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is offering to the Nigerian government in response to the recent killings by Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Mr David Lidington

The UK has taken an active role in leading international support to Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram. We are providing a substantial package of UK military, intelligence and development support, which includes training and advice to Nigerian units deploying against Boko Haram, intelligence support and support to the Nigerians in bringing increased development and prosperity to the North East. We are also working closely with our international partners to support the large numbers of people displaced by the conflict in the North East.