The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he and his Department have received regarding alleged fabrication of charges by the Colombian state against David Flórez, spokesperson for the Patriotic March movement.
Mr Hugo Swire
My Department has not received any representations regarding alleged fabrication of charges by the Colombian state against David Florez.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart about reports that agents acting on behalf of the Colombian government are bringing trumped-up charges against leading members of the Patriotic March movement.
Mr Hugo Swire
My Department has not received any evidence regarding alleged trumped-up charges by agents acting on behalf of the Colombian Government against leading members of the Patriotic March movement.
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/