Tag: Jim Shannon

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on how many people have experienced adverse health effects as a result of using the drug ruxolitinib.

George Freeman

Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme. The Yellow Card Scheme collects information relating to suspected adverse drug reactions, which include both serious and non-serious effects which a health care professional or patient suspect may have been due to a medicine.

The MHRA has received a total of 74 United Kingdom spontaneous suspected ADR reports in association with ruxolitinib up to and including 10 February 2015. This number includes reports received directly from healthcare professionals, patients and indirectly through pharmaceutical companies which have a legal obligation to report suspected ADRs.

The inclusion of a particular ADR in a report does not necessarily mean it has been caused by the drug, only that the reporter had a suspicion it may have, or it had a close temporal relationship to the administration of the suspect drug. The fact that symptoms occur after a treatment does not necessarily mean that they have been caused by the drug itself, as underlying illnesses and other conditions may be responsible.

In 2013, the product information for ruxolitinib was updated to warn healthcare professionals that cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) have been reported with ruxolitinib and to recommend that patients are monitored at regular intervals for any new or worsening neurological symptoms or signs. The Market Authorisation Holder is currently conducting studies to investigate the risk of PML further. The benefits of ruxolitinib to adult patients with myelofibrosis who have an enlarged spleen or symptoms related to the disease are considered to outweigh the risks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that internal defibrillators be available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators – internal defibrillators – are already available on the National Health Service.

The decision about whether to implant a defibrillator into a patient is a clinical one which we would expect to take account of any relevant guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart on training and capacity building in the Egyptian army.

Dr Andrew Murrison

The Secretary of State for Defence has not had any discussions with his Egyptian counterpart on training and capacity building in the Egyptian army.

As part of wider UK defence engagement Ministry of Defence officials regularly discuss the potential for further engagement with a number of countries and may from time to time provide training as required and in accordance with wider Government policy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to increase the sentences available in cases of the cyber-bullying of students.

Mike Penning

The sending of abusive messages or material online can cause misery for victims and is an issue the Government takes extremely seriously.

That is why we are changing the law through the Criminal Justice and Courts Act to increase the maximum sentence to two years in prison for the offence of sending abusive or offensive material online with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

We are also changing the law to enable prosecutions to take place three years after the alleged offence, rather than six months.

There are a number of other serious penalties available in cases of cyber bullying of students.

Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the offences of harassment causing alarm or distress or putting people in fear of violence carry a maximum of six months and five years imprisonment respectively.

There is also an offence under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 of sending material which is indecent, grossly offensive, obscene or menacing. It carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

In addition, guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Council stipulate that it is an aggravating factor if an offence is committed against a vulnerable victim or involves abuse of a position of power. Sentencing guidelines can be found on the Sentencing Council’s website, and courts are obliged to follow the guidelines unless it is not in the interests of justice to do so.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will discuss (a) solar energy and (b) other alternative energies with his Egyptian counterpart.

Gregory Barker

The UK Government engages with Egypt on a series of renewable technologies, including solar, through multilateral forms such at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). We also provide some technical assistance, through the World Bank, to help Egypt diversify their energy sources.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken in response to the discovery of horsemeat in other foods in 2013 to improve co-operation between Government departments on public health issues.

Jane Ellison

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to develop its capability in relation to food fraud, in response to recommendations made in the reviews of the horsemeat incident, working closely with other Government Departments, enforcement agencies, local authorities and industry to detect and deter food fraud. The FSA is building an intelligence gathering network to increase the opportunity to capture and act on intelligence which may be indicative of future risks, as well as producing strategic and tactical assessments to share with relevant enforcement agencies, particularly through the Government Agency Intelligence Network.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Iranian government about the imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani.

Hugh Robertson

We are aware of the arrest and imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani. We remain deeply concerned about the detention and treatment of all prisoners of conscience in Iran and the ongoing discrimination against Christians and other minority religious groups. We have called for the Iranian government to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran and end the persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith. The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires raised the issue of freedom of religion with the Iranian authorities during his visit to Iran on 12 March.

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 in co-operation with major retailers to prevent unhealthy food being marketed more favourably than healthier foods.

Jane Ellison

The Department has been leading a programme of voluntary action by industry to rebalance their advertising and promotion, including by offering the healthier option as a default so that their customers can choose to follow a healthy, balanced diet.

For example, major retailers such as Lidl and Tesco have committed to remove sweets and confectionery from all of their checkouts. The Department continues to encourage more partners to follow this example, and through programmes like Change4life promotes such action.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Egyptian government on the Muslim Brotherhood.

Hugh Robertson

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the Muslim Brotherhood with former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on 14 May.

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 co-ordinate with the devolved administrations to plan for the effects of an ageing population.

Norman Lamb

Health and care is generally a devolved issue for the devolved administrations. Nonetheless, the Department works with the devolved administrations on matters of mutual interest, including the effects of an ageing population.