Tag: Jim Shannon

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that UK defence capability can effectively respond to a threat from Russia.

Penny Mordaunt

As outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review our commitment to collective defence and security through NATO remains as strong as ever. Our 2% defence spending pledge will ensure that we stay NATO’s strongest military power in Europe.

In 2017 the UK will lead the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, formed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and we will make a significant contribution to the force every year of this Parliament. As well as providing Typhoons to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, we have provided ships and Army units to NATO exercises to reassure our Allies against the threat from Russia, and we will continue to do so. We are joining the German-US Trans-Atlantic Capability Enhancement and Training initiative in the Baltic states and Poland, sharing our military expertise.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he is making to the Nigerian government on securing the release of non-Muslim underage girls who have been abducted, forcibly converted and forcibly married in states in the north of that country.

James Duddridge

We have received a number of reports on the abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of women and girls by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria. These women and girls reportedly come from both Muslim and Christian communities. Due to the nature of Boko Haram attacks, which often take place in remote areas, it is difficult to obtain precise data on such activities.

We welcome the progress made by Nigeria and its neighbours against Boko Haram, including the release of women and children. We regularly raise the issue of abducted women and girls with the Nigerian government at the highest levels, and have stressed the importance of providing appropriate support to those who are rescued.

The UK remains fully committed to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to tackle Boko Haram, support those targeted by its indiscriminate campaign of violence, and find those who are missing. We are providing a substantial and increasing package of intelligence, military and development support to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS plans to offer keyhole surgery for liver and colon cancer.

Jane Ellison

NHS England is committed to promoting evidence-based innovation and surgical techniques. Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery can be used in many different surgical interventions, including for liver and colorectal cancer, as determined by clinical teams, often in discussion with the patient.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-05-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) helicopters, (b) Royal Navy ships and (c) Royal Air Force aircraft are stationed in the Falkland Islands.

Penny Mordaunt

Four contractor-owned and operated helicopters are currently stationed in the Falkland Islands. Two AW-189 helicopters deliver search and rescue services and two S-61 helicopters deliver a medium lift capability. One River Class patrol ship (HMS CLYDE), one C-130, one Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, and four Typhoon aircraft are also currently stationed in the Falklands.

In accordance with the Secretary of State’s announcement to the House on 24 March 2015 (Official Report, column 1302), two Chinook helicopters are due to return to the Falkland Islands. The first of these will begin operations in July 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to make the Cefaly headband for the treatment of migraines available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published interventional procedure guidance (IP) on transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve (which the Cefaly headband provides) for treating and preventing migraine in May 2016. Current evidence on its use raises no major safety concerns, but the evidence on its efficacy is limited in quantity and quality. The NICE has therefore recommended that this procedure should only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent and audit or research.

IP guidance does not consider how much the procedures would cost the National Health Service, or whether the NHS should allocate funding for them. These decisions are made at a local NHS level and usually on a case-by-case basis. This means that if the NICE has issued guidance recommending any given IP, the NHS is not obliged to provide it.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to help older women and men into work.

Justin Tomlinson

DWP recognises and welcomes the valuable knowledge and skills that older workers bring to the work place. There are now more older people in employment than ever before, 9.6 million 50+ workers in the UK – an increase of over a million (1.3 million) over the last 5 years.

As well as access to the full Jobcentre Plus offer of personalised support, we introduced Older Claimant Champions in Jobcentre Plus, and have run two yearlong trials from April 2015 to test how we support older people where age is a barrier to them finding work. The trials are being evaluated and initial results will be available in autumn 2016.

The Government intends to publish a new, employer-led national strategy later this year, setting out the future direction of the Fuller Working Lives agenda.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making the Mobetron mobile device for the delivery of radiotherapy available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison

No such assessment has been made. Although NHS England commissions radiotherapy services, the choice of equipment rests with individual providers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of slavery have been reported in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire

The table below shows the number of potential victims of human trafficking or modern slavery who were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in the UK between 2011 and 2015.

The NRM is the UK’s identification and support mechanism for potential victims of modern slavery.

A breakdown of referrals is available from published NRM statistics on the National Crime Agency website and can be found here: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce anxiety disorder in women under 35.

Alistair Burt

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services treat common mental health conditions, including anxiety. More than 3.5 million adults have entered the IAPT programme since its inception in 2008. Of that 3.5 million, over 2.1 million have completed treatment and over 725,000 are in recovery and more than 100,000 people have moved off sick pay and benefits.

We have introduced waiting times standards to ensure better access to IAPT so that 75% of people referred to IAPT receive treatment within six weeks and 95% receive treatment within 18 weeks.

In January 2016, the Government announced almost £1 billion of additional investment for mental health, which included £290 million of new investment over the next five years to provide mental healthcare for perinatal care.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has had made of the effect of the introduction of the HPV vaccination on reducing the incidence of head and neck cancer among men who have sex with men.

Nicola Blackwood

In November 2015 the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation advised that a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme should be introduced for men who have sex with men (MSM) attending genito-urinary medicine clinics. In preparing this advice, the Committee took into account mathematical models that considered the likely effect of the vaccination programme on anal, penile and oropharyngeal (including tonsillar) cancers. The models suggested that introduction of HPV vaccination for MSM is likely to decrease the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers in the long term.