Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they anticipate imminent proposals by the European Commission compelling member states to send gas supplies to any other state in the case of emergencies; and if they expect such proposals to be brought forward, whether any decision would be taken by qualified majority voting or unanimity.

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

    Commission proposals for a revision to the existing security of gas supply regulation were published on the 16 February. We will need to consider carefully the precise emergency arrangements that are proposed and how they might impact on the UK. These proposals will of course be subject to the usual negotiation process during which the Government will seek to achieve the best possible outcome for the UK. A final text will need to be agreed by qualified majority voting in the Council and in agreement with the European Parliament.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-07.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about allowing visits of parliamentarians to Gaza.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We do not make representations on behalf of British nationals, including parliamentarians, wishing to travel to Gaza. Parliamentarians should be aware that at this time the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to Gaza. Entry and exit from Gaza is difficult and can, at times, be impossible. Entry is through either Israel, with permission from the Israeli authorities, or Egypt, with permission from the Egyptian authorities (although this border has been closed almost entirely since October 2014).

  • Baroness Finlay of Llandaff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Finlay of Llandaff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff on 2016-04-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the database created by the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Act 2016 is intended to supersede the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s hierarchy for the use of unlicensed medicines.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The database will not supersede the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) guidance on the hierarchy for the use of unlicensed medicines, which is set out in the MHRA’s ‘Guidance Note 14’. The Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Act 2016 seeks to facilitate access to innovative medical treatments including the off-label use of medicines and the use of unlicensed medicines, such as in schemes like the Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS). The Act provides for the establishment of a database of innovative medical treatments, which doctors can access to search for innovative treatments in schemes like the EAMS, including unlicensed or off-label medicines for which there is evidence that a patient might benefit. Where appropriate they can also search for clinical trials that are underway and discuss their findings with their patients to establish if they would benefit from being part of a clinical trial. There will be a full consultation on the database in due course.

  • Oliver Colvile – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Oliver Colvile – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that the workforce requirements for the delivery of the NHS England transformation plan can be met with qualified clinical psychologists within the five-year timescale of the plan.

    Alistair Burt

    As set out in the independent Mental Health Taskforce report, Health Education England is working with NHS England, Public Health England, the Local Government Association and local authorities, professional bodies, charities, experts-by-experience and others to develop a costed, multi-disciplinary, five-year workforce strategy. This will focus on the future shape and skill mix of the workforce required to deliver both the Taskforce’s recommendations and the workforce recommendations set out in the Future in Mind strategy for improving children and young people’s mental health.

    Health Education England will also consider the future requirements for training new clinical psychologists and psychotherapists as part of its workforce strategy. Health Education England published its commissioning and investment plan for 2016/17 which sets out plans to commission 526 training places for clinical psychologists in 2016/17 and 43 child psychotherapist places.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Kerry McCarthy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-07-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has amended its draft of the 25 year plan on food and farming as a result of the outcome of the EU referendum.

    George Eustice

    Following the result of the EU Referendum, we now have an opportunity to consider our long term vision for food and farming outside of the EU.

    It remains essential that the UK has a thriving food and farming industry with high animal welfare and environmental standards, access to international markets and a long term commitment to boosting productivity through innovation and skills. We are now focused on taking forward the actions that support these objectives, in order to develop our long term vision. To do this, we will continue to work with a wide range of interests to develop that vision, and to work together to deliver it.

  • William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK withdrawing from the EU on the promotion of UK trade with other Commonwealth countries.

    Greg Hands

    Withdrawing from the EU will give us the opportunity to shape our own international trade and investment opportunities, drive even greater openness with international partners and put Britain firmly at the forefront of global trade and investment.

    We already enjoy excellent trading relationships with Commonwealth partners and we are committed to strengthening these further.

    The UK is co-hosting, with Malta, the inaugural Commonwealth Trade Minister’s meeting in London in March 2017. This will be an excellent opportunity to promote greater trade and investment within the Commonwealth.

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice and information his Department has distributed to UK nationals in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt since 28 October 2015 on staying in that resort; and if he will place copies of such documents in the Library.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    On 4 November 2015, we amended our Travel Advice to advise against all but essential travel by air to Sharm el-Sheikh. We have not changed our Travel Advice for the resort itself. The FCO’s Travel Advice, available at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, provides objective information and advice to help individuals make better-informed decisions about their travel, and the Egypt page has been regularly updated to reflect developing events since the crash of the Russian airliner on 31 October.

    We have worked closely with airlines and tour operators, and deployed consular officials to the airport and resort to assist British nationals. As part of their work, these officials have distributed extracts from our Travel Advice for Egypt, statements from the Department for Transport, and contact details for the embassy and airlines. They have also distributed short “Frequently Asked Questions” documents at the airport and resort. As much of this information is already on www.gov.uk, we do not plan to place copies of these documents in the Library.

  • John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance he is providing to help defeat (a) Boko Haram in West and Central Africa, (b) al Shabab in Somalia and East Africa and (c) al Qaeda affiliates in Yemen.

    Mark Lancaster

    The UK is increasing support to the Nigerian Forces in tackling the Boko Haram threat. We have a resident British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) that has grown in size since the government announced last year that the UK would increase its support to Nigeria to combat Boko Haram. UK military personnel are working with US, French and Nigerian experts in an intelligence fusion cell in Abuja, and the Coordination and Liaison Cell in N’Djamena, Chad. The Defence Secretary has announced the additional deployment of a small team of experts who will work alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria to provide assistance in countering improvised explosive devices as well as medical training and advice.

    UK Defence is currently contributing to wider international efforts to achieve stability and security in Somalia and the wider East Africa region and defeat Al Shabaab. We are achieving this through supporting a range of UN and EU Missions to provide training, mentoring, and logistical support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and develop the Somali National Army.

    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) continues to pose a threat to both the UK and globally. We are committed to supporting the Yemeni government in establishing a stable and secure Yemen and we continue to work with regional and international partners to tackle the threat posed by AQAP and Daesh in the Yemen. Ongoing peace talks are the top priority as a political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to the country.

  • Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Freyberg on 2016-01-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) definitive, and (2) actionable, diagnoses are made for every 1,000 genomes sequenced as part of the rare disease arm of 100,000 Genomes Project; and how many diagnoses they estimate would have been made if the Project were run using (1) whole, and (2) medical, exome technology; and if those estimates are not available, why not.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The 100,000 Genomes Project is not intended to provide definitive or actionable findings from whole genome sequencing. This is the responsibility of the National Health Service Genomic Medicine Centres based on interpretation reports provided by Genomics England. To date approximately 20 reports have been issued based on the initial interpretation of the pilot phase genome data. It is not possible to estimate the comparison between whole genome and exome methods for these patients. That is because the eligibility criteria for patients to be invited to participate in the 100,000 Genomes Project require that they remain undiagnosed after standard NHS diagnostic tests.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what budgets and programmes have been established since 2014 to help the regeneration of council housing estates.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    A total of £290 million of loan funding has been allocated by the Government to help the regeneration of local authority housing estates. The first tranche of this funding was announced jointly between the Greater London Authority and the Department for Communities and Local Government on 13 June 2014, and the second was announced by the my rt. hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 11 January 2016.