Tag: Keith Vaz

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to bring forward proposals for a change to legislation to further regulate the pricing of everyday drugs to the NHS by pharmaceutical companies.

George Freeman

The Department is already referring cases to the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) and to strengthen our work in this area. We are considering putting measures in place to routinely and systematically monitor significant price increases of generic medicines and take action where appropriate, including the possible referral of suspected excessive pricing to the CMA, while taking into account the potential impact of any such action on the availability of medicines.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK Government staff are seconded to or directly assist the UK Special Envoy to Yemen and his team.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

No UK Government staff are seconded to or directly assist the UK Special Envoy to Yemen and his team. Through the cross-government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, we are providing £1.05 million to the UN Special Envoy’s office to bolster UN capacity to facilitate the peace process, and are also supporting work to broaden the dialogue to include women and other under-represented groups.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps the Government has taken to support the reopening of peace talks in Yemen and the establishment of a ceasefire.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We welcomed and fully supported the UN facilitated talks held in Switzerland in December 2015 and the commitment to engage in a new round of talks in the near future. We are working closely with the UN to encourage parties to engage in good faith without preconditions in future talks. We are encouraging all parties to reinstate a ceasefire at the next round of talks and are working closely with the UN to achieve this. This is being achieved through Ambassadorial and Ministerial engagement with the Yemeni government and the UN. I spoke to the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed (IOCA) at the start of February.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much compensation the former Chairman of East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust will receive as a result of her resignation from that post.

Jane Ellison

The NHS Trust Development Authority advises that the Chair of the East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust has not resigned. However, the Chief Executive, Sue Noyes, will be leaving her post in June 2016 and will be paid in line with the terms of her contract.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-03-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans that Spirit Healthcare’s type 2 diabetes education programme will provide education for those with established diabetes.

Jane Ellison

Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for making decisions on the commissioning and funding of local services, such as structured education programmes, to meet the health needs of their local population, taking into account issues of safety, clinical and cost effectiveness.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle extremism and facilitate youth engagement in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Peace talks are the top priority. A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen. We are working closely with the UN to encourage parties to engage in good faith, without preconditions in the UN-facilitated talks which started on 21 April in Kuwait. Our support to the UN Council Resolution 2216 shows our commitment to engaging with civil society and youth as conditions allow. We are working closely with international partners to share learning and expertise in the support of positive alternative messages, and disruption of poisonous extremism propaganda.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-09-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports the Government has received on the operations of Daesh in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We assess that there is a risk that terrorist groups such as Daesh-Yemen, as well as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) may take advantage of the continued instability in Yemen. Countering such terrorist threats remains a priority for Her Majesty’s Government. We continue to work with regional and international partners to understand, assess and counter the terrorist threat from Yemen.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK Government staff were present at the UN-sponsored Yemeni peace talks in Kuwait in August 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and his tireless efforts in working with all parties to bring about peace in Yemen. We deeply regret the failure of the parties to reach an agreement in Kuwait and we urge them to find the compromises that will end the current conflict. Our Ambassador to Yemen and other personnel were present at the Kuwait talks, however the Ambassador and other members of the international community did not participate directly in the talks.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what rules govern the movement of senior NHS staff to private sector organisations.

Ben Gummer

There are no central rules governing the movement of senior National Health Service staff into the private sector although local contracts may include restrictions aimed at preventing staff exploiting their knowledge of the NHS for commercial advantage.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made in standardising the border control queue measurement system across airports, ferry ports and rail terminals.

James Brokenshire

Guidance on how queue measurements should be taken at UK border controls was updated in November 2015, following a review. This standardises the approach required for measuring queues. This guidance will be placed in the House Library.