The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether UK Export Finance has provided (a) loan guarantees and (b) low interest loans to Rio Tinto plc to support any of its investments or operations overseas in the last five years.
Matthew Hancock
UK Export Finance has not provided loan guarantees or low interest loans to Rio Tinto plc in the last five years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the declaration by the African Union that the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara, should be cancelled.
Dan Rogerson
Having received no invitation, no assessment has been made.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what change there has been in access to colon cancer treatments since 2012.
George Freeman
Since April 2013, NHS England has been the responsible commissioner for chemotherapy and radiotherapy services, together with a number of specialist surgical services, which include some complex urology and colorectal cancer surgeries. Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for the diagnostic pathway and some surgeries for both colorectal and urological cancers.
NHS England routinely commissions a range of anti-cancer drug treatments for both colorectal and prostate cancer. These are drug indications that have either been recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal guidance, or have been considered as routine practice in the treatment of these cancers for many years.
NICE is the independent body that assesses the clinical and cost-effectiveness of treatments for routine use in the National Health Service. NICE has recommended the following treatments for prostate cancer through its technology appraisal process since 1 January 2012:
– abiraterone (Zytiga) for castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen; and
– enzalutamide (Xtandi) for metastatic hormone‑relapsed prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel‑containing regimen.
NICE is in the process of appraising the following treatments:
– sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for the first line treatment of metastatic hormone relapsed prostate cancer;
– degarelix depot (Firmagon) for treating advanced hormone dependent prostate cancer;
– enzalutamide for treating metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer not previously treated with chemotherapy; and
– radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo) for hormone relapsed prostate cancer with bone metastases.
NICE is currently reviewing technology appraisal guidance on cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix) for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and expects to publish updated final guidance on these treatments in April 2016.
In addition to routinely commissioned treatments, the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) provides access to other treatments that would not normally be available.
From April 2013, NHS England assumed operational responsibility for the CDF. As of 19 January 2015, the following drugs are available through the national CDF list for the treatment of prostate cancer:
– abiraterone;
– cabazitaxel (Jevtana);
– enzalutamide; and
– radium-223 dichloride.
Cabizitaxel is due to be removed from the national CDF list on 12 March 2015.
The following drugs are also available through the national CDF list for the treatment of colorectal cancer:
– aflibercept (Zaltrap);
– bevacizumab (Avastin);
– cetuximab; and
– panitumumab.
Aflibercept, bevacizumab as a first-line treatment and cetuximab as a second- or third-line treatment with combination chemotherapy are due to be removed from the national CDF list on 12 March 2015.
Since April 2013, there has been progress in meeting the Government’s commitment to increase patient access to inverse planned Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). The success of this planned expansion of access is demonstrated in the increased number of IMRT episodes (patients), which has risen from just over 8,500 per year in 2012-13 to a projected figure of over 25,000 in 2014-15 of which around 40% of these patients are treated with IMRT for prostate cancer.
NHS England has not altered the service specification or published any commissioning policies which have altered those colorectal cancer surgical services that fall within the remit of specialised commissioning.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review the capacity of NHS trusts to provide specialist mammography services; and if he will make a statement.
Jane Ellison
NHS England has been working with Public Health England, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and the British Society of Breast Radiology on this matter. The RCR is planning to undertake a survey this spring of all breast imaging services to evaluate the current and future work force and service needs. We will work with Health Education England to support workforce development and change as needed for this area of radiology.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Curran on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many children in Scotland are living in (a) relative and (b) absolute poverty.
Mr Alistair Carmichael
Estimates of the number and proportion of children in relative and absolute low income are published in the National Statistics Households Below Average Income series. These estimates are available as three-year averages to 2012/13, and show that in 2010/11-2012/13 the number and percentage of children in relative and absolute low income was 0.2 million (17%) and 0.2 million (18%) respectively.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Stanley on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2015 to Question 222938, regarding the standard individual export licence for equipment employing cryptography and software for equipment employing cryptography to the value of £7.7 billion approved by his Department for export to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, what the reasons were for the surrender of that licence by the exporter in August 2014; what role was played by his Department in the surrender of that licence; and what the reasons were for his Department’s approval of that licence in the first quarter of 2013 when it was then surrendered unused by the exporter 18 months later.
Matthew Hancock
Exporters are not obliged to give reasons for surrendering licences. This was a purely commercial decision by the company and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills played no part in the decision to surrender the licence.
As is the case with all applications, this application was assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria in the usual way, taking into account the nature of the goods and the intended end-use. The application was for electronic components and circuit boards, which are specifically designed for building mobile phone networks for public use. The proposed export did not breach any of the Criteria and therefore the licence was granted.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he has received an invitation to the Crans Montana forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara; and whether he plans to send a representative to that forum.
Matthew Hancock
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has received and declined an invitation to this forum and my Department does not plan to send a representative. We are aware of reports that the African Union has called for the forum to be cancelled but we do not intend to make any assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2015-02-10.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations he has received on Equitable Life compensation packages; and if he will make a statement.
Andrea Leadsom
The Treasury continues to talk to many interested parties on this important issue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has published to ensure local authorities fulfil their duty to consider economic, social and environmental well-being through procurement.
Kris Hopkins
The Government published Best Value Statutory Guidance in September 2011. Under the Duty of Best Value local authorities should consider overall value, including economic, environmental and social value, when reviewing service. The Guidance can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/5945/1976926.pdf
In addition, the Cabinet Office/Crown Commercial Service have also provided guidance on the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 , which the Department has distributed to all local authorities including fire and rescue authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2015-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Written Statement of 10 February 2015, HCWS273, on gifting of counter-IED equipment to Iraq, what protection will be provided to the members of the Armed Forces being deployed as part of the C-IED training package in Erbil.
Michael Fallon
UK Armed Forces personnel deploying to deliver the C-IED training in Erbil will conduct a comprehensive package of pre-deployment training and will be equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment. They will be armed for self defence purposes and the deployment will include a dedicated force protection element. Coalition partners will also provide force protection at the training location.