Tag: Jim Shannon

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to improve the transparency and accountability of the NHS complaints process; and if he will take steps to prevent vexatious complaints being made.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The Government, as part of its response to the Francis and Clwyd/Hart reviews, has established a Complaints Programme Board to bring together a range of partners across the care system to implement actions that will lead to improvements in complaints handling by the National Health Service. A significant area of its work programme is to improve transparency, governance, and the sharing of good practice.

We do not consider it appropriate generally to seek to discourage any complaints about the NHS. However, individual NHS organisations would be expected to have published information on how they handle unreasonably persistent complainants, and to deal with such complaints in a proportionate and fair manner.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that British expertise will be used in the building of the nuclear power station in Egypt.

Hugh Robertson

UKTI officials in Egypt are closely monitoring progress towards the building of new nuclear power stations in Egypt and will work to promote appropriate opportunities for British companies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games for participation in clay pigeon shooting in each region of the UK.

Mrs Helen Grant

Sport England is investing £1.1 million in British Shooting for 2013-17 to get more people taking part in shooting regularly.

According the Active People Survey, 54,300 people take part in clay pigeon shooting in England at least once a month. This is an increase of 3,800 since 2012. It is the most popular shooting discipline in England.

Table 1 gives a regional breakdown of shooting (all disciplines) participation. Please note – a regional breakdown of figures for specific shooting disciplines is not available due to the relatively small size of the sport.

Table 1:

Region	Monthly Participants (16+) – Oct 2011/12	Monthly Participants (16+) – Apr 2013/14	Change since 2011/12
East	22,800	19,400	-3,400
East Midlands	14,200	11,300	-2,900
London*	–	–	–
North East*	–	–	–
North West	12,000	12,700	700
South East	21,100	23,200	2,100
South West	18,700	12,400	-6,300
West Midlands	10,500	14,400	3,900
Yorkshire	9,700	16,900	7,200

*Data not available for these regions due to the relatively small size of the sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that shops secure the physical safety of their customers during future Black Friday promotions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Harper

Retailers are responsible for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of customers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

When organising special events such as Black Friday retailers must plan their activities to effectively control and manage risks. Regulation of retail activities sits with the relevant local authority.

The Health and Safety Executive is in discussion with both the retail industry trade associations and Local Authorities about the implications of initiatives such as Black Friday promotions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her most recent estimate is of the UK population of each species of bumble bee; and what steps she is taking to increase the numbers.

Dan Rogerson

It is not possible to estimate the number of each species of bumblebee in the UK. We have made an assessment of trends in bumblebee populations from occurrence or distribution data collected by volunteer groups. Of the 26 bumblebee species which have been recorded in the UK, two have been declared extinct in the last century. One new species has arrived and another is being re-introduced. Bumblebee diversity generally decreased in Great Britain between 1950 and 1989, although the rate of decline appears to be slowing in more recent decades.

Defra supports a number of initiatives that directly benefit bumblebees and other insect pollinators. Building on these initiatives, we are working with stakeholders to develop a National Pollinator Strategy. This will contain a series of policy actions to safeguard pollinators. We have also commissioned a two-year research project to develop and test a programme to monitor pollinators.

On 18 July we launched our pollinator call to action, ‘Bees’ Needs: Food and a Home’. This is a simple message for all land managers on the essential needs of pollinators and how to fulfil them. By making a few simple changes to our land management practices, we can make a positive difference for pollinators, including bumblebees.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the (a) British Association for Shooting and Conservation and (b) Countryside Alliance on Larsen traps for the control of corvids.

George Eustice

Defra Ministers have not discussed the use of Larsen traps for the control of corvids with either the British Association for Shooting and Conservation or the Countryside Alliance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage parents to prevent the consumption of alcohol by children; and what steps are being taken by schools to assist this prevention work.

Jane Ellison

The Government’s Alcohol Strategy set out several measures to support our commitment to reducing underage drinking. These include educating young people on the risks associated with alcohol and by addressing factors that can influence young people’s attitude to alcohol, such as parental drinking. We are ensuring that guidance is available for parents through a range of public and community organisations including; NHS Choices, Directgov, Family Lives, and NetMum, Mumsnet, Dad Talk and Contact a Family.

Following the Government’s review of Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education in March 2013, the Department for Education launched an evidence-based alcohol and drugs information service for those working with young people, which provides practical advice and tools based on the best international evidence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with medical authorities on the use of botox as a painkiller; and whether it is used as such in the NHS.

Norman Lamb

We have had no such discussions. Botox is not licensed in the United Kingdom for use as a painkiller.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published technology appraisal guidance for the National Health Service in May 2012 which recommends botulinum toxin type A as a possible treatment for preventing headaches in some adults with chronic migraine, subject to certain clinical criteria.

Patients have the right to drugs and treatments that have been recommended by NICE for use in the NHS, where their doctor believes they are clinically appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 3, Part 2 and the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine to interventions aimed at modifying the genome of the recipient’s descendants.

Jeremy Wright

By convention whether or not I have given advice or conducted legal assessments, is not disclosed outside of Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the British Medical Association and cancer groups on studies of the potential effects of aspirin on cancer.

Jane Ellison

We know that research carried out so far shows that taking a low dose of aspirin daily may lower the risk of getting cancer and it may lower the risk of some cancers spreading to other parts of the body. However, aspirin can cause serious side effects such as internal bleeding and we have to be certain that the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh the risks.

The third annual report of Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer, published in December 2013 reported that an international consensus statement on the use of aspirin in the general population has been developed by experts around the world, but is awaiting publication. Once the international consensus statement is published, we will assess what this means for policy in England, such as when the benefits might be outweighed by the disadvantages (particularly, the increased risk of gastric bleeds) and how best to manage the use of aspirin for prevention and treatment of cancer.

Cancer Research UK advises that anyone thinking of taking aspirin to reduce the risk of getting cancer should talk to their doctor first.