Tag: Nigel Evans

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2016 to Question 21839, what steps he is taking to ensure that engagement with the National Bowel Screening Programme continues to increase; and what (a) national and (b) local targets his Department has for such engagement.

Jane Ellison

NHS England, commissioners of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, closely monitor the coverage rates for bowel cancer screening in all eligible age groups and is committed to increasing uptake and reducing variation across England. Local NHS England commissioners analyse coverage rates within their area and seek to improve uptake by sharing best practice.

The Independent Cancer Taskforce published its report, Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes in July last year, and recognised the importance of early diagnosis and screening. The taskforce recommended an ambition that 75% of people participate in bowel screening by 2020. To facilitate this change, they recommended a change to a new test, the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) which is an easier to use test than the current Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test and improves uptake. On 15 January 2016 the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) announced the recommendations it made at its 19 November 2015 meeting. The UK NSC has recommended that FIT be used as the primary test for bowel cancer instead of the currently used FOB test. Ministers are now considering the UK NSC’s recommendation.

Information on the average cost to the National Health Service of a colonoscopy performed following a positive screening test for bowel cancer is not held centrally. Information is available in the following table and is from reference costs, which are the average unit costs to NHS trusts and foundation trusts of providing defined services to patients. Reference costs for acute care are published by healthcare resource group (HRG), which are standard groupings of similar treatments that use similar resources.

Estimated average unit cost of a diagnostic colonoscopy reported by NHS trusts and foundation trusts, 2014-15

Procedure	Average unit cost
Diagnostic colonoscopy, 19 years and over	£519
Diagnostic colonoscopy with biopsy, 19 years and over	£604

Source: Reference costs, Department of Health

Note:

The unit costs shown are the average of costs reported across a range of settings including elective inpatient, non-elective inpatient, day case and regular day and night attenders.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-04-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to address (a) demand for eye clinic appointments and the (b) hospital eye services.

Alistair Burt

Clinical commissioning groups are able to commission eye care services over and above the sight test where they judge them to be needed in their areas.

This could include post cataract surgery reviews, glaucoma monitoring and low vision services which may reduce pressure on hospital eye departments, reduce waiting times and make patient care pathways more accessible in the community.

There is scope for further work to be done by community optometrists and the Clinical Council for eye health commissioning is working with commissioners to develop commissioning guidelines in this area.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his long-term plans are for the operation and use of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Penny Mordaunt

RAF Akrotiri has performed a vital strategic function in support of operations over many years and continues to fulfil that function today including in support of operations in Iraq and Syria. We expect RAF Akrotiri to remain an essential element of the UK’s overseas presence for years to come.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-10-10.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on the employment of the introduction of tax on soft drinks.

Jane Ellison

The Government is consulting on the detail of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL). An initial impact assessment has been published alongside the consultation document.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many students from India were granted a visa to study in Britain in 2000.

James Brokenshire

Due to a change of database in 2004, comparable data are not available for visas in years prior to 2004.

In 2005, 18,857 Indian nationals were issued with study visas granting entry clearance to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2016 to Question 21838, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) training and (b) funding the extra 250 gastroenterologist and 200 non-medical endoscopists that will increase capacity for colonoscopy and endoscopy.

Ben Gummer

The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Kent produces an annual report which includes the costs of delivering National Health Service services. In doing so, the PSSRU assesses the total cost of training, including to the individual. A link to the latest report, published in March 2015 is included below.

http://www.pssru.ac.uk/project-pages/unit-costs/2014/

NHS trusts are responsible for ensuring that they have enough gastroenterologists to provide services to their patients. It will be for NHS providers to meet the employment costs of these staff.

Health Education England (HEE) has identified cancer and diagnostics as a priority area for 2016-17. HEE estimates that between £1 million and £1.5 million will be required to fund an additional 200 non-medical endoscopists by 2018.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-04-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to work with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust following the closure of Chorley Accident and Emergency unit.

Ben Gummer

The Department is concerned about the current situation at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and is actively monitoring developments. These matters, including recruitment, are for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as employer, and NHS Improvement as regulator. The Trust has not asked the Department for any support in resolving these issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to reduce the likelihood of future flooding in Whalley, Ribchester and surrounding areas.

Rory Stewart

The Environment Agency (EA) has spent approximately £750,000 on flood defence schemes in the villages of Slaidburn and Bolton by Bowland over the last decade.

Since the December 2015 flooding, the EA has given one-to-one help and advice to over 100 residents. As part of the works to repair bank erosion at Whalley Bridge, the EA is contributing £20,000 to reduce flood risk by removing gravel from the river channel.

Currently there is a review of flood risk in the Lower Calder which will develop options and predicted costs to address the Main River flooding. The EA aims to report at the end of the year. In 2017, a review of flood risk in Ribchester will commence.

Lancashire County Council is currently bidding for £2 million in Grant in Aid to address surface water flooding in Whalley and Billington. The Environment Agency’s flood and coastal erosion risk management investment programme is refreshed annually to accommodate change, maximise opportunities and integrate new projects. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee will endorse changes and new additions to the programme, which are then prioritised nationally according to the partnership funding process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the composition and remit is of the review she has established to advise her on the future of St Helena airport.

Rory Stewart

The independent Panel is currently being established, a process which will consider its proposed composition and its remit.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the reasons were for the Ministry of Defence Police withholding a Special Investigation Branch report of Lt. Col. Jolleys’ circumstances from a fraud trial in which he was convicted of failing to declare changes to his circumstances.

Mark Lancaster

A Special Investigation Branch Report was served as evidence at Lt Col Jolleys’ trial and was provided to his Defence team pre-trial.

It will take time to gather the further information and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.