Tag: Robert Flello

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to consult with interested hon. Members before the next Ministerial visit to Colombia.

Mr Hugo Swire

On 19 June 2014, I held a round table with Peace Brigades International UK, Justice Colombia and AB Colombia to discuss a range of issues prior to my visit to Colombia (25-27 June). The invitation was also extended to members of the Parliamentary Friends of Colombia and the All Party Parliamentary Group. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also met Martha Diaz Suarez, Director of AFUSADO (an organisation for family members of victims of extra-judicial killings), who was unable to attend the round table.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart seeking clarification of the actions being taken by the Colombian government to ensure the safety of land restitution claimants in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire

During my recent visit to Colombia from 25 to 27 June, I met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs and heads of the Colombian government’s major human rights agencies. This included the National Protection Unit: the Government body that coordinates the protection of at risk groups and individuals in Colombia. I set out HM Government concern about the reported rise in attacks against human rights defenders and cases of impunity for those responsible.

Whilst in Bogotá, I also met representatives from six human rights organisations, including Oxfam and Christian Aid as well as Colombian non-governmental organisations (NGOs.)

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if the Government will launch an inquiry into the price of fuel to identify the reasons for the disparity between global oil prices and the domestic prices paid by motorists.

Matthew Hancock

The Government has made it clear to the industry that it is vital the benefits of plunging oil prices are passed on quickly to the domestic prices paid by motorists.

UK national average pump prices are now at their lowest levels since March 2010 for diesel and at its lowest since Dec 2009 for petrol. We expect fuel retailers to cut prices further as the decline in crude oil prices in recent weeks continues to feed through the system.

We continue to monitor price movements very closely.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission work to compare the cost and success of hard shoulder running on smart motorways with the Siemens eHighway.

Mr John Hayes

The Highways Agency is not considering undertaking work to compare the cost and success of hard-shoulder running on smart motorways with the Siemens eHighway. Smart motorways provide primarily congestion management for all vehicles whereas the Siemens eHighway focuses on freight traffic and the associated environmental benefits in terms of Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide reduction. Whilst costs could be compared the two approaches have significantly different objectives and outcomes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2015-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission trials of the Siemens eHighway in the UK similar to those conducted in California.

Mr John Hayes

The Highways Agency is currently investigating the feasibility of inductive wireless power transfer technology that meets the needs of all vehicles. This is in alignment with the work defined as part of the Innovation funding in the Roads Investment Strategy. There are currently no plans to trial other technologies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to prevent NHS England from implementing restrictions on the use of new drugs for advanced prostate cancer, enzalutamide and abiraterone.

Norman Lamb

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published technology appraisal guidance in June 2012 which recommends abiraterone (Zytiga) in its licensed indication for the treatment of castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen, subject to a patient access scheme agreed between the Department and the drug’s manufacturer.

NICE is currently appraising (i) abiraterone for the treatment of metastatic hormone relapsed prostate cancer not previously treated with chemotherapy and (ii) enzalutamide for metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer in adults whose disease has progressed during or after docetaxel-containing chemotherapy.

National Health Service commissioners are legally required to fund those treatments recommended by NICE in its technology appraisal guidance.

In the absence of NICE technology appraisal guidance it is for the relevant NHS commissioner to make funding decisions based on an assessment of the available evidence. The NHS Constitution states that patients have the right to expect local decisions on the funding of drugs and treatments ‘to be made rationally following a proper consideration of the evidence’.

We understand that abiraterone as a first-line treatment is available through the Cancer Drugs Fund to NHS patients in England who could benefit from it, and that enzalutamide is also available through the Cancer Drugs Fund to patients who meet specified clinical criteria.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to increase the transparency of NICE’s decisions on the Cancer Drugs Fund to remove any restrictions on treatment use arising from budgetary pressures and increase its level of engagement with members of the public.

Norman Lamb

The operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund is the responsibility of NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not have a role in the management of the Fund.

NHS England has a standard operating procedure for the Fund, which is available at:

www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what preliminary hearings in the case of Huber Ballesteros officals from the British Embassy in Bogota have attended.

Mr Hugo Swire

The UK cannot interfere in Colombia’s judicial process but will continue to raise any concerns regarding due process and conditions with the Colombian authorities.

The Embassy is currently awaiting authorisation from the Municipal Criminal Court to visit Huber Ballesteros in prison.

To date, the British Embassy has not yet been authorised to visit Huber Ballesteros in prison, this is despite requesting permission on six different occasions.

No representatives of the British Embassy were able to attend the preliminary hearings in the case of Huber Ballesteros due to unrelated security concerns. His trial will take place on 26 and 27 of June and the British Embassy intends to send Officials to observe this.