The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the use of pig organ transplants for humans.
Nicola Blackwood
The Department has no plans to make such an assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the value of shooting sports is recognised in legislation protecting wildlife.
Dr Thérèse Coffey
Nature protection and management is a devolved issue, so I can only answer with respect to England. When carried out in accordance with the law, shooting is a legitimate and humane activity. In addition to its significant economic contribution, providing jobs and investment in some of our most remote areas, the Government recognises that shooting offers important benefits for wildlife and habitat conservation and can be a useful wildlife management measure.
The Government’s position is that people should be free to undertake lawful activities if they wish to do so and shooting is a permitted method of control in legislation protecting wildlife.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women in each of the last five years had a miscarriage.
Mr Philip Dunne
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) provide information on the number of miscarriages. The table shows the number of miscarriages from 2010/11 to 2014/15 where there was a hospital admission.
|
Year |
Number of miscarriages |
|
2010-11 |
43,005 |
|
2011-12 |
42,538 |
|
2012-13 |
39,800 |
|
2013-14 |
38,869 |
|
2014-15 |
38,377 |
Activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector
Source: HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with opticians’ associations on opticians spotting illness when carrying out eyesight checks.
David Mowat
There have been no specific discussions on this with opticians’ associations. Regular sight tests are an important measure in preventing avoidable sight loss and provide a health check for eyes that can pick up early signs of eye conditions.
Under the Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) (No.2) Regulations 1989, when a doctor or optometrist carries out a sight test, they have a legal duty to perform such examinations that are necessary to detect signs of injury, disease or abnormality and to refer the patient for further investigation if necessary. They will also carry out tests to determine if the patient requires an optical appliance to correct a defect in sight.
These requirements apply to all sight tests, whether provided on the National Health Service or privately.
The General Optical Council (GOC) is the regulatory body for optometrists who carry out sight tests and any concern about the quality of sight tests can be raised directly with the GOC.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the Iraqi government on steps to tackle drug abuse in Iraq.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We are aware of reports of drug abuse in Iraq but we have not had discussions with the Government of Iraq on this subject. We continue to support vulnerable communities through our humanitarian assistance. Since June 2014 the Department for International Development has committed £129.5 million to the humanitarian effort in Iraq. That assistance reaches hundreds of thousands of people across the country and includes essential medicine, emergency kits and psychological support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his policy to ensure that Type 45 ships will be repaired and fully operational in order to support the planned new aircraft carrier.
Harriett Baldwin
All Type 45 Destroyers remain in a planned operational cycle and continue to be routinely deployed. Included in this will be periods when they are undergoing repair.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-10-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will take steps to encourage people not to eat too soon before they plan to sleep in order to avoid increased risk of heart attacks.
Nicola Blackwood
Government advice to prevent heart disease is to eat a diet consistent with the Eatwell Guide and in particular choose a diet lower in energy, saturated fat, salt and sugar and higher in fruit, vegetables, oily fish and fibre than current diets, alongside being more active.
NHS Choices currently advises people not to eat big meals just before bed to improve sleep. This advice can be found at:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/insomnia/Pages/insomniatips.aspx
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-10-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the time taken for people with (a) rare and ultra-rare conditions, (b) Morquio A Syndrome and (c) Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy to access treatment.
Nicola Blackwood
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised that, with NHS England, it is currently running a consultation which sets out proposals to enable faster access to therapies for patients with ultra-rare conditions. The proposals outline what conditions need to be met in order to receive a positive recommendation through the NICE highly specialised technologies programme and what mechanisms should be in place to introduce new technologies and manage the affordability challenge for NHS England.
NICE has also advised that a proportion of patients with Morqiuo syndrome who have met the criteria under the managed access agreement are already receiving elosulfase alfa (Vimizim) and are being monitored by their specialist centre. The remainder are being assessed to ensure that they fulfil the eligibility criteria and patients who do will start treatment within the first year of the managed access agreement coming into force. A very small proportion of the population has decided for personal reasons not to participate.
NHS England and PTC Therapeutics, with the brokering of NICE, agreed a managed access agreement that will enable access to translarna (Ataluren) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Specialist centres are in the process of reviewing potentially eligible patients to assess their suitability to receive the drug under the terms agreed in the managed access agreement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with insurance companies on dealing with accidents caused by driverless cars.
Mr John Hayes
My officials in the Department for Transport, and the cross-Whitehall Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, are meeting regularly with leading insurance companies and industry organisations, such as the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and the Association of British Insurers. These discussions include considering how the ongoing introduction of connectivity and automated technologies in vehicles will change the way that motor insurance works in the short, medium and long term, and how the industry will need to adapt when dealing with accidents. We have subsequently consulted on insurance proposals for automated vehicles, as announced in the Queen’s Speech earlier this year and will publish our summary of responses shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Indian government on its steps to hold to account and prosecute state officials and other people who violate the safeguard for religious freedom in that country’s constitution.
Mr Hugo Swire
The Constitution of India guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion. The Indian government has a range of policies and programmes to support religious minorities.
I welcome Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to be the "servant of all Indians". He has clearly reaffirmed his commitment to the Constitution and “the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence”. Should any individual break the law in India, it is a matter for the Indian law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute.
The High Commission in New Delhi also maintains regular contact with the union and state government, civil society organisations and senior faith leaders working on religious freedom across India.