Tag: Margaret Ritchie

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase research into the causes and types of rare diseases in England.

George Freeman

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has invested significantly in world-class research infrastructure in the National Health Service, to provide the facilities and people to undertake and increase research into rare diseases.This includes significant funding through the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Units, the NIHR Bio Resource – Rare Diseases which provides opportunities for patients, their families and health volunteers to take part in early translational research on the basis of their genotype and phenotype, and the dedicated NIHR Rare Diseases Translational Collaboration that brings together the country’s leading researchers in rare diseases and promotes collaboration including with the life sciences industry.

In 2012 the NIHR also launched a call for Applied Clinical Research on Very Rare Diseases as part of the researcher-led funding streams across six of the NIHR Research Programmes. This call was issued in support of the UK Strategy for Rare Diseases and in recognition of the need for increased high quality evidence on the organisation of super specialised services or their commissioning and to improve the health outcomes for sufferers of rare diseases.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to address the political crisis in Syria before March 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are closely involved in international efforts to facilitate a political solution to the conflict in Syria. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) attended discussions convened by US Secretary Kerry in Vienna on 30 October, which may be the begining of a political process in Syria.

Foreign Ministers agreed to meet again within two weeks. The UK will fully support this process including by hosting ministerial or official-level meetings. We are supporting the moderate Syrian opposition to ensure they are represented in the political process. Through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, the Foreign Office is also providing a broad range of support to Syrians inside Syria on peace building, governance, human rights, and civil society issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2015 to Question 11834 to the hon. Member for Salford and Eccles, on what date he plans to announce the consultation on reform of the scheme for support for people affected by contaminated blood products.

Jane Ellison

The Department is currently awaiting the conclusion of the Spending Review and so we cannot provide a date for the full consultation at this time. However, it remains a priority and will be publicly announced.

The consultation will allow individuals who are affected by this tragedy the opportunity to express their views on what support they would value in a reformed scheme. The details of the consultation will be published on the Government’s website, including details of how those who are interested can respond.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-02-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the implications are of her Department exceeding its Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit for the funding of other policies in her Department.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

There are no implications for the funding of other policies in my Department as a result of exceeding its Capital Departmental Expenditure limit. The Department’s operational expenditure is not included in this category of expenditure. Details of the breach were provided in the Northern Ireland Office Annual Report and Account 2014-15 which is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447028/NIO_Accounts_2014-2015.pdf

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides when granted emergency authorisation on the bee population in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

George Eustice

Emergency authorisation was granted in 2015 for the use of two neonicotinoids on up to around 32,000 hectares of oilseed rape crop in high-risk situations in England and used by the applicant in Eastern counties. The expert assessment of the application concluded that this would not pose an unacceptable risk to bees. No authorisations were granted for use in Northern Ireland.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to improve security measures at sites containing nuclear waste.

Jesse Norman

Security of nuclear waste is a high priority for the Government, and the Office for Nuclear Regulation provides independent assurance that materials are kept safely and securely. The spending review settlement for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority also supports continuing investment in security infrastructure. However the Government does not comment on security measures at nuclear sites.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government plans to use its membership of the UN Security Council to facilitate diplomatic negotiations on the protection of civilians in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Protection of civilians in Syria, as well as those who have been forced to flee the country, is a priority for the UK. In the Security Council we have co-sponsored a number of humanitarian resolutions that call for an end of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including the use of barrel bombs, starvation as a method of warfare, and obstructing the flow of humanitarian aid. Specifically, the UK played a key role in negotiating Resolution 2191, which has allowed the UN and its partners to deliver aid across Syria’s borders to people who were previously denied access, including food for 2.1 million people and medical supplies for 2.5 million people. The UK is the second largest bilateral donor, providing over £1.1 billion to those most in need in Syria and neighbouring countries. This is our largest ever response to a crisis. The long term protection of civilians requires an end to the conflict in Syria and a political settlement based upon the principles of the Geneva Communiqué. We continue to pursue this objective, including through the new political process which began in Vienna on 30 October.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect of potential reforms of the Human Rights Act 1998 on the Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ben Wallace

The Government was elected in May with a clear mandate to implement its manifesto commitment to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights.

We believe that it is entirely possible to do that in ways that are consistent with the Belfast Agreement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the source was of the military device that washed ashore between Murlough and Newcastle in Northern Ireland on 6 March 2016.

Penny Mordaunt

The item found on Murlough Beach on 6 March 2016 was a High Explosive Anti Tank rocket, which was used by UK Armed Forces from the early 1950s through to the early 1970s. It was destroyed on site by the Explosives Ordnance Disposal team that attended the incident.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department’s policy is on restrictions on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

George Eustice

The Government’s policy on pesticides, including neonicotinoids, is that decisions should be made on the basis of all the scientific evidence. Restrictions should be put in place if these are necessary to protect people or the environment.

EU restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids imposed in 2013 remain in force and have been fully implemented in the UK. The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to review the risks to pollinators from neonicotinoids. This review is due to conclude in January 2017 and the UK will contribute fully as it progresses. Following the completion of EFSA’s work, the European Commission will consider whether to propose changes to the current restrictions.