Tag: Will Quince

  • Will Quince – 2023 Speech at ASEAN Conference

    Will Quince – 2023 Speech at ASEAN Conference

    The speech made by Will Quince, the Minister for Health and Secondary Care, at the ASEAN Conference on 2 November 2023.

    Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, your Excellencies, our friends from South-East Asia.

    I’d like to let you all in on a little secret – being the Minister responsible for Global Health is one of my favourite parts of the job.

    Partially because I’m asked to attend receptions in beautiful rooms like these, which I must confess, are slightly nicer than what I’m used to!

    But also because it’s a real privilege to meet with our partners from across the globe.

    And today, I’m delighted to welcome the Secretary General of ASEAN, on his first visit to the UK.

    Your Excellency, your visit comes at a vital time. We stand at the dawn of a new partnership between ASEAN and the UK.

    In 2021, the UK became ASEAN’s first new dialogue partner in a quarter of a century. And since then, our relationship has continued to grow in confidence and in strength, because we share a vision of a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific region, governed by the rule of law.

    And the UK wants to play the fullest possible role in advancing that vision, drawing on the best of British expertise in finance, regulation, and healthcare. That’s why we applied to join the ASEAN Regional Forum.

    And it’s why we’re committed to working with ASEAN to meet the challenges of the 21st century, from climate change to global health, and harnessing AI’s potential.

    Your Excellency, I hope you’ve witnessed the UK commitment to our cooperation throughout your visit. I know you’ve have met with our Deputy Prime Minister. You have visited Oxford University, and tomorrow you will open the London Stock Exchange.

    As I can see in the room tonight, our leading scientific minds and industry partners are committed to finding solutions.

    Not just to current health challenges, but also those facing future generations – from pandemics to the impact of a changing climate on our health systems.

    As a health minister, I’ve got a front row seat to see the benefits our joint efforts will deliver for our people.

    I know investing in global health research isn’t just good for my country – it benefits the peoples of South-East Asia, and the world.

    And we all know it’s the only way we’ll prevent the next global health crisis.

    That’s why since 2016, the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research has joined forces with 27 institutions across South-East Asia, funding over £86m in critical health research.

    The UK’s Newton Fund has supported over 70 research teams to conduct crucial research on strategic areas like antimicrobial resistance, meningitis and COVID-19.

    And through the Fleming Fund, my department has invested £265m, supporting countries around the globe to generate, share, and use data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

    I’m proud this is the world’s single largest aid investment in AMR surveillance.

    It will continue to bolster our partnership with at least four ASEAN member states.

    But this is just the beginning. Today, I’m proud to announce we’re investing more than £30m of aid in four new vaccine manufacturing research hubs through the UK Vaccine Network.

    This will build partnerships between British universities and global vaccine developers.

    And that includes creating a dedicated UK-South East Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Hub, in a partnership between the University of Sheffield and twelve ASEAN partner institutions.

    So that if another pandemic strikes, lifesaving vaccines will be more readily available across South-East Asia and the world.

    And that’s not all. We’re also working closely with our friends in the Secretariat to develop a new programme: the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership.

    This will bring the full force of our expertise to bear in tackling shared global health challenges.

    And there is no greater symbol of our friendship, than the nearly 36,000 nurses and midwives, and the several thousand doctors from ASEAN member states who are working in our National Health Service.

    I pay tribute to their decades of dedicated service. And in recognition of that service, we’re giving leadership development opportunities to healthcare staff working in the UK and across ASEAN, through NHS England’s Global Fellowship Programme.

    With their help, together, we’ll build the resilient and inclusive health systems we need, to save lives across the world.

    Your Excellency, the measures we’re announcing today will help our countries tackle future pandemics, boost research into vaccines, and reduce deaths from infectious diseases.

    And I hope you return to the region, safe in the knowledge our partnership will go from strength to strength from here. Thank you.

  • Will Quince – 2023 Statement at the UN Universal Health Coverage High-level Meeting

    Will Quince – 2023 Statement at the UN Universal Health Coverage High-level Meeting

    The statement made by Will Quince, the Foreign Office Minister, on 25 September 2023.

    No matter where in the world they’re born, everyone has a right to affordable, quality health care.

    But every year, seeking health care pushes hundreds of millions of people into poverty. And millions more can’t get the care they deserve.

    We cannot let this continue. We can do better.

    That’s why today, we must reinvigorate our mission to achieve universal health coverage.

    The UK proposes three key priorities.

    First, we must focus our efforts on a primary health care approach.

    The UK is committed to doing this by building global partnerships.

    This includes working with like minded nations to champion sexual and reproductive health and rights as part of universal health coverage. And rolling out life-changing vaccines, medicines, and technology in communities.

    This week, we pledged up to £295 million for global research partnerships.

    These partnerships will help forge the tools and evidence we need to make universal health coverage a reality. As well as addressing other key priorities like ending the preventable deaths of mothers, babies and children, strengthening global health security, and tackling antimicrobial resistance.

    Second, we must combat financial hardship.

    This means Governments protecting the poorest in our societies from devastating health care fees.

    We recognise many countries face serious financial challenges, limiting their ability to do this.

    That’s why the UK is championing reforms to the international financial system to help developing countries access more finance to address their priorities. And achieving universal coverage must be at the heart of this work.

    Third, we must strengthen the global workforce, the lifeblood of our health systems.

    By 2030, there could be a global shortfall of ten million health workers. So, we must join forces to train, recruit, and retain more of these vital public servants.

    That’s why this year, we launched the first-ever long-term workforce plan for the NHS. And announced a £15 million international investment package, working with our partners Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya to bolster their health workforces.

    But this is just the beginning.

    All our nations need to work together in a truly global partnership. We are stronger together than alone.

    Only then can we deliver universal health coverage, and build a fairer, brighter, and healthier world.

    So today, let’s roll up our sleeves and get on with the job.

    Thank you.

  • Will Quince – 2023 Statement on the Transfer of NHS Digital into NHS England

    Will Quince – 2023 Statement on the Transfer of NHS Digital into NHS England

    The statement made by Will Quince, the Minister for Health and Secondary Care, in the House of Commons on 1 February 2023.

    My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Lord Markham) has made the following written statement:

    Today, NHS Digital legally becomes part of NHS England, to create a single, central authority responsible for all elements of digital technology, data and transformation for the NHS.

    Laura Wade-Gery was commissioned by the Government to lead an independent review of how we can ensure digital technology and the effective use of data is at the heart of transforming the NHS.

    Her report “Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS”, published in November 2021, recommended merging the functions of NHS Digital into NHS England, to provide a single statutory body for data, digital and technology to provide the right leadership and support to integrated care systems.

    NHS Digital, since its creation as the Health and Social Care Information Centre, has been a powerful force for change in the NHS and guardian of its key data IT and data systems. These will be transferring to NHS England, together with its expert staff.

    All the protections of people’s data which existed in NHS Digital will apply in NHS England. Rigorous internal controls will continue to ensure that data is used and shared safely, securely and appropriately to deliver high-quality care, understand and protect the health of the population, effectively plan and improve services, and research and develop innovative treatments, vaccines and diagnostics.

    This is an important step in bringing together in a single place, the essential systems and programmes to digitally transform the NHS, and to harness the full potential of data. This will enable health and social care services to use digital and data more effectively to deliver improved patient outcomes and address the key challenges we face.

  • Will Quince – 2023 Comments on NHS Staffing Levels

    Will Quince – 2023 Comments on NHS Staffing Levels

    The comments made by Will Quince, the Minister for Health, on 5 January 2023.

    Growing the workforce is one of my immediate priorities and we are making significant progress in training and recruiting a record number of staff – with over 42,000 more people working in the NHS compared to a year ago – and we are well on track to deliver on our commitment to recruit 50,000 more nurses.

    Thanks to these dedicated staff we’re building a stronger, healthier NHS for the long-term and we will publish a workforce plan this year to recruit and retain more staff and make the NHS the best place to work.

  • Will Quince – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Will Quince – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to revise the agreement reached with the National Housing Federation on right to buy to remove references to almshouses in the table of discretionary sales.

    Brandon Lewis

    Almshouses are exempt from the Right to Buy for council housing. This long-standing exemption will also apply to the extended Right to Buy for housing associations.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2016 to Question 34465, if his Department will take steps to allow web-users to include honours when completing government online forms.

    Mr David Lidington

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a number of online forms to collect information from users for the delivery of a service.

    In creating forms for British nationals we follow the Government Digital Service design pattern guidance, ‘How to structure web forms for GOV.UK services’ – https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-centred-design/resources/patterns/form-structure.html.

    The guidance requires the FCO only to collect information necessary to deliver a service. Information on honours is therefore not collected.

    We regularly analyse our online services to ensure they capture the necessary data, and our services are assessed to meet the Digital Service Standard before they go public.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-09-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of security at London City Airport after the recent protestor security breach.

    Mr John Hayes

    We keep aviation security under constant review. The Civil Aviation Authority, as regulator, has carried out a full investigation of the incident on 6 September, and will continue to monitor London City Airport’s response to the incident and subsequent investigation. For obvious reasons we would not comment publicly on the details of this response.

  • Will Quince – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Will Quince – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to revise the agreement reached with the National Housing Federation on right to buy to expressly state that almshouse licensees will not have the right to buy.

    Brandon Lewis

    Almshouses are exempt from the Right to Buy for council housing. This long-standing exemption will also apply to the extended Right to Buy for housing associations.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2016 to Question 34465, if his Department will take steps to allow web-users to include honours when completing Government online forms.

    Mike Penning

    My Department currently has no general plans to allow web users to include honours when completing on line forms.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Great British Food Unit in opening up new markets for British food and drink exports.

    George Eustice

    In the last year, the Great British Food Unit has opened 24 new export markets and secured improved conditions for an additional 14 markets. It has supported UK companies around the world to secure new exports worth hundreds of millions of pounds. In addition, we have made good progress opening the US and Japanese markets to British beef and lamb.