Tag: Jim Shannon

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to prevent (a) illegal drugs and (b) pornography entering prisons.

Andrew Selous

We use a range of robust searching and security measures to detect items of contraband both at the point of entry to the prison and concealed within the prison. We continue to explore new methods of preventing drugs coming into prisons, including using body scanners and training search dogs to detect new psychoactive substances.

Prisoners are allowed to purchase publications that are normally available through high street newsagents. There are strict controls over the publications available to prisoners, with prisons having the power to ban any material they deem unsuitable. Sex offenders are denied access to anything believed to be inappropriate or likely to affect their rehabilitation and governors may also confiscate items that present a threat to good order or discipline.

All IT and IT media that prisoners have access to is checked for illicit material, including pornography. USB ports are disabled and other security measures are put in place to ensure that prisoners cannot misuse such equipment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to reduce the administrative burden placed on fishing boats under 10 metres.

George Eustice

I am keen to ensure that administrative burdens on the small-scale fleet are kept to the minimum possible, while still allowing for effective management of the fishery. Improvements to the services offered to fishermen by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) include:

• Simplification of the application process under the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund scheme;
• The introduction of exemptions under the Landings Obligation so that industry does not have to bear a disproportionate cost of disposing of unwanted fish;
• Streamlining application forms to reduce size and make them easier to understand; and,
• Moving to permanent vessel licences, eliminating the need to replace them every five years.

Defra and the MMO will continue to engage with individuals within the ten metres and under fishing community in order to identify additional areas where administrative burdens might be reduced, or where other improvements could be made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to make new stem-cell therapy available on the NHS for patients with multiple sclerosis.

Jane Ellison

The Government continues to support research through a range of funding agencies into new treatments for multiple sclerosis. Clinical trials are currently underway to test the potential of stem cell treatments for multiple sclerosis. Before any treatment could be made available on the National Health Service it would have to meet normal standards of safety and effectiveness.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many post offices are earmarked for closure in the next three years.

George Freeman

Government’s funding arrangements for Post Office Limited require them to maintain a network that meets nationwide access criteria.

Within that framework, the provision of post offices is the operational responsibility of Post Office Limited. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to you on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to implement the EU Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

Karen Bradley

We are committed to ending Violence Against Women and Girls. The previous Government signed the Istanbul Convention (the Council Of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence) and this Government remains committed to ratifying it but have made it clear that we will not do so until we are absolutely satisfied that we fully comply with all articles but amendments to domestic law, to take extra-territorial jurisdiction over a range of offences (as required by Article 44), are necessary before the Convention can be ratified.

The Ministry of Justice is currently considering the approach to implementing the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements in England and Wales and will seek to legislate when the approach is agreed and Parliamentary time allows. The Ministry of Justice will be consulting Ministers in the devolved administrations formally about whether legislative changes on extra-territorial jurisdiction in England and Wales should extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Convention applies to the whole of the UK so any changes necessary to the criminal law in Scotland and Northern Ireland prior to ratification are matters for the devolved administrations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that equipment is properly tested before purchase or procurement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Department uses Test and Evaluation to support decision making throughout the acquisition cycle to understand the performance of the equipment that we procure.

Test and Evaluation activities are used to demonstrate that equipment is fit for purpose, safe and compliant with contract requirements. The suitability of these activities is an integral part of our normal acquisition management processes and decision points.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that any assistance provided to Palestinians in camps in Lebanon is used to encourage reconciliation between Palestine and Israel to take steps towards peace.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The main objective of our support to Palestinians living in camps in Lebanon is to meet their basic human needs, especially food needs. We also support projects aimed at improving governance and life chances for youth and communities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has had discussions with his EU counterparts on the containment of the Zika virus.

Jane Ellison

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly discusses matters across his portfolio with his European counterparts. He continues to monitor this outbreak of the Zika virus closely. In addition, Departmental officials continue to discuss the developing situation, including the measures that can be taken to contain the virus, with European colleagues through a number of channels, including at regular meetings of the European Health Security Committee.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have reported side-effects related to an organ transplant in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison

Post-transplant side-effects are monitored by the transplant centre, and all serious adverse events and reactions associated with organ donation and transplantation are required to be reported to the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), in accordance with the Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation Regulations 2012.

Under these regulations, a serious adverse reaction is defined as an unintended response, including a communicable disease, in the living donor or in the transplant recipient that might be associated with any stage of the chain from donation to transplantation that is fatal, life-threatening, disabling, incapacitating, or which results in, or prolongs, hospitalisation or morbidity. The reporting of a reaction does not necessarily mean that someone involved has made a mistake. For example a donor may have an infection that was not known or indeed detectable at the time of donation.

The available information is shown in the following table:

Organ Donation and Transplant

Reported serious adverse reactions* in the United Kingdom, 2012 to 2016

	2012/2013** (Q3 and Q4)	2013/2014	2014/2015	2015/2016 (up to and including Q3)
Serious adverse reactions	5	12	10	10

Source: HTA

Notes:

* The data is not reflective of all side effects associated with transplantation, since they are limited only to serious adverse reactions associated with the quality and safety of the transplanted organs.

** the requirement for transplant centres to report Serious Adverse Reactions set out in Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation Regulations 2012, commenced 27 August 2012.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for investigating the reports it receives from relevant clinical personnel, and reports to the HTA incidents which meet the definition under the 2012 Regulations. It also notifies the HTA of the steps being taken to manage the reported events or reactions and provides confirmation that all actions have been concluded. NHSBT then feeds back to the clinical community to share learning and promote best practice from incidents both in the UK and across Europe.

NHSBT also works with professional and patient organisations to ensure that all potential transplant recipients are given as much information as possible about the risks as well as the huge benefits of transplantation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to change the terms of tax conditions for UK multinational companies operating in Malawi.

Mr David Gauke

The taxation of UK companies operating in Malawi is governed by Malawian domestic tax law, where necessary modified by the terms of the UK/Malawi double taxation tax treaty. Negotiations between the two countries on a replacement treaty are substantially complete and the Malawian government has stated that it hopes to be in a position to sign the new treaty in the near future.