The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2015-09-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with NHS England regarding the (a) commissioning of continence services and (b) guidelines for continence services.
Jane Ellison
My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets representatives from NHS England on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues, including the commissioning of local NHS services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2015-09-16.
To ask the Attorney General, what steps his Department is taking to improve public understanding of the legal framework applicable to social media.
Jeremy Wright
Judging by the number of referrals from members of the public to my office there is clearly some awareness of the legal framework applicable to social media but I have sought to increase this awareness by, for example, issuing online warnings on social media, including Twitter, in appropriate cases.
In relation to the commission of criminal offences by social media users, the Crown Prosecution Service has also issued detailed guidelines to prosecutors on handling cases involving communications sent via social media.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the level of broadband coverage in (a) the UK and (b) other major European nations.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Ofcom’s European Broadband Scorecard (http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/telecoms-research/bbresearch/scorecard-14) stated in figure 8 that the percentages of households in areas served by broadband were:
|
Standard broadband |
Mobile broadband |
Superfast broadband |
|
|
United Kingdom |
95-100% |
95-100% |
70-75% |
|
France |
95-100% |
95-100% |
20-25% |
|
Germany |
95-100% |
90-95% |
65-70% |
|
Spain |
95-100% |
95-100% |
60-65% |
|
Italy |
95-100% |
95-100% |
10-15% |
Ofcom also publishes comparative information in its International Communications Market Report (http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/communications-market-reports/cmr13/international/)
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a suitable commemoration of the First World War; and if he will support the Royal Sussex Regiment Association’s efforts for a memorial to be erected in Priez, France.
Mrs Helen Grant
The Government will mark the centenary of the First World War with an appropriate programme of national events, cultural activities, educational initiatives and community projects across 2014-18. It is fitting that organisations such as the Royal Sussex Regiment Association are seeking to commemorate the centenary in ways which are meaningful for them.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to devolve greater responsibilities to democratically elected county councils and county unitary authorities.
Kris Hopkins
The Government has always believed that local decision-making plays an essential role in building stronger local economies and communities and is open to discussions over possible offers from areas that are interested in greater devolution of powers. This basic principle of localism underpins the Government’s approach and is why programmes such as Growth Deals and Growing Places Fund have been made available to all local areas in England through Local Enterprise Partnerships.
I also refer my hon. Friend to the Government’s publication, "The implications of devolution for England” (CM 8969) which outlines the views of both Coalition parties on the scope for greater decentralisation in England.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implications-of-devolution-for-england
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2015 to Question 222873, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK users who acquire non-human primates ensure breeders and suppliers they deal with have proper controls and processes in place; how such controls and processes are monitored; and how many UK users have been found not to have sufficient controls and processes in place.
Lynne Featherstone
We have taken a number of steps to gain assurances about the quality of non-human primates being imported for research within the legal constraints available to us. We have emphasised to those UK users who acquire these primates that they are responsible for ensuring that the breeders and suppliers they deal with have proper controls and processes in place. In order to be assured that these animals are of appropriate quality for the work authorised on their project licences, they need to be confident of high standards of care and welfare.
We are aware that, in recent years, these UK users have routinely visited and inspected their overseas primate breeders, and that they do indeed demand these high standards. We are encouraging this to continue.
Home Office Inspectors assigned to establishments holding and using imported primates play a key role in monitoring the situation. Through inspection visits and other contact with animal care staff, inspectors maintain awareness of the importations of primates, both consignments already acquired and those due. This enables appropriately timed inspections to be carried out to monitor the quality of animals being acquired.
We also expect the local inspector to be notified promptly in the event of any significant health or welfare problems which may occur following arrival of an importation of primates. Should a particular source be shown to be delivering primates of unacceptable quality from the perspective of their health and welfare, we will deal with this through the relevant licence authorisation.
No UK users have been found to have insufficient controls and processes in place.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-07-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2013, what procedures are included in the direct diagnosis category.
Norman Baker
The Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain 2013 report a total of 52,444 procedures were conducted on 6,725 animals with ‘Direct diagnosis’ as the primary purpose. This represents a 3% increase on the total number of procedures, in this category, in 2012 and a 1% increase on the number of animals, in this category, in 2012. Most procedures reported under the category ‘Direct diagnosis’ involve the collection of blood or blood products from either non-immunised animals or animals immunised against various antigens. The procedure of blood collection is classified as being of low severity and, with appropriate licence authority, may be repeated
many times in the same animal. The products from these procedures, including whole blood and antisera, are used in diagnostic tests.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what (a) direct and (b) indirect bilateral funding arrangements his Department has with governmental or non-governmental projects and bodies in Argentina.
Gregory Barker
The Department does not at present provide bilateral funding to Argentina.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will establish an Aircraft Noise Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government is currently considering the recommendations made by the Airports Commission, including the recommendation to create an independent noise authority. The Government will respond to the Interim Report as soon as possible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what scientific purposes she has licensed procedures on animals that were likely to cause severe suffering since 2010; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of animals experiencing severe suffering in scientific procedures.
Norman Baker
The information asked for is not held centrally and could only be obtained at
disproportionate cost.
The Government only authorises procedures on animals after rigorous checks.
Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 there is a statutory
requirement for scrutiny by, in the first instance, the Animal Welfare Ethical
Review Body at the Establishment where the work will be performed, and then an
assessment is made by the Home Office Inspectorate. In addition, projects are
referred to the Animals in Science Committee for scrutiny where they propose
the use of non-human primates in severe protocols and other projects that ministers
consider require further consideration.
One of the key factors in the assessment of licence applications is the
harm-benefit analysis, which has been part of our assessment process since
1986. The parameters considered in this analysis are described in Appendix I of
the Operational Guidance to the 1986 Act. A harm-benefit analysis determines
whether the proposed harms to the animals are justified by the likely benefits to be
delivered from the project. Inspectors give advice on minimising harms during
their assessment of project licence applications. Licensees have a legal
responsibility to ensure that work is undertaken on animals in the least severe
manner possible whilst delivering their scientific objectives. This year we
are undertaking a review of the harm-benefit analysis process, with advice from
the Animals in Science Committee, to determine if there are further refinements
we can make to the process.
I am committed to working to reduce the number of animals used in scientific
procedures. The Coalition Commitment delivery plan "Working to reduce the use
of animals in research" was published in February 2014. In particular, the Home
Office Inspectorate is working with the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals on methods of refinement of the most severe models to avoid
or reduce animal suffering. This has included careful consideration of models
of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, seizures, rheumatoid arthritis
and sepsis. Inspectors are actively promulgating the recommendations from each
of these reports.
In addition, the Home Office has published advisory notes on recording and
reporting actual severity, as required by the transposed European Directive
from 2013. From data collected we will provide clarity on the burden of harm
and, over time, should give an indication of the effectiveness of refinement
methods, particularly for the most severe procedures.
It is imporant to note that procedures classified as severe represent only a
small percentage of total procedures.