Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the fire on the X-Press Pearl, what recent assessment he has made of fire safety on container ships.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The recent fire and explosion on board the X-Press Pearl and the subsequent environmental impact of the incident highlights the importance of fire safety on container ships. There are two main international standards applicable in these cases, these are the International Code for Fire Safety Systems and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. These are implemented in the UK and compliance is monitored through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) survey and inspection regime.
The MCA is part of an international working group assessing certain provisions of the IMDG Code and developing amendments which would enhance safety and fire prevention. These amendments will be made to the next edition of the IMDG Code.
The MCA is also reviewing existing legislation related to the carriage of dangerous goods by sea and fire safety systems on ships and will be consulting on these later this year. The proposed amendments would allow a swifter implementation of new provisions and standards so that the UK can quickly embed the latest provisions for dangerous goods and fire safety on containers ships into domestic regulations.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assistance the Government has provided to Sri Lanka following the (a) fire on and (b) sinking of the X-Press Pearl.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK Government remains concerned about the environmental impact caused by the fire on the X-Press Pearl ship. We have engaged regularly with the Sri Lankan authorities and international experts on the ground to determine how the UK can best support the response.
The UK Government is providing marine pollution expertise to Sri Lanka to help respond to the potentially devastating impact on the marine life and coastal habitats of Sri Lanka. The UK will also provide expertise and analytical capacity to support plastic pollution monitoring, as well as environmental and socioeconomic impact assessments. The UK's Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science will partner with Sri Lankan Government Departments, academics and responsible authorities to support effective emergency response and implementation of a post spill integrated monitoring plan.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of NICE Quality Standard 170 on spondyloarthritis in reducing delays in diagnosis for people with axial spondyloarthritis.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We have made no such assessment. Quality standards issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and represent best practice for the health and care system. National Health Service organisations and healthcare professionals should take them fully into account in ensuring that services meet the needs of patients.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure prompt action on missed child maintenance payments to avoid the accrual of large arrears.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Where someone fails to pay on time or in full, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will contact the parent concerned and aim to re-establish compliance to avoid the build-up of arrears.
The CMS also has a range of strong enforcement powers, which can be used to to ensure children receive the financial support they deserve.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to implement NICE Quality Standard 170 on spondyloarthritis.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) promotes quality standards and other guidance via its website, newsletters and other media. Whilst providers and commissioners must have regard to NICE quality standards in planning and delivering services, they do not provide a comprehensive service specification and are not mandatory.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
What steps his Department is taking to increase Covid-19 testing capacity.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are increasing our testing capacity, both through current swab testing and new, rapid lateral flow tests to cut the spread of COVID-19 nationwide.
The United Kingdom’s daily testing capacity passed 500,000 on 31 October. Testing capacity in the UK across all pillars between 29 October and 4 November was at 4,367,049 tests - an increase of 21% compared to the previous week.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question
What recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office on civil service impartiality and diversity and inclusion.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
The Civil Service is committed to developing inclusive workplaces. We are refreshing our approach based on new evidence of what works.
The focus will be on embedding best practice, ensuring the Civil Service acts as an exemplar employer.
Senior officials are consulting Departments and staff on the new approach, and are working closely with Ministers from across Departments who have an interest.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to (a) carry out and (b) take into account additional wildlife surveillance when making his decision on whether to extend the badger culling programme.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
On 7 September Natural England published licences for areas that will undertake badger control operations in England this autumn. This includes the reauthorisation of licences for 33 existing areas alongside licences for 11 additional areas. All applications received were carefully assessed by Natural England to ensure that each cull company has suitable arrangements and plans in place to carry out an operation that is safe, effective and humane.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-authorisation-for-badger-control-in-2020
This operational publication is a continuation of the long-term strategy to tackle the animal disease Bovine TB which was published in April 2014.
Prior surveillance for TB infection in badgers is not required to grant licences for the removal of badgers to control the spread of TB in the High Risk and Edge Areas of England.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish Professor Malcolm Bennett’s badger roadkill study of the Edge area.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Defra-funded survey of TB in badgers in the Edge area of England involved examination and sampling of carcasses of found-dead badgers for the presence of Mycobacterium bovis (the bacterium that causes TB). Professor Bennett’s work formed part of that project. Researchers are currently working on a peer-reviewed publication of their study in a scientific journal and a final report will be published by Defra on the http://randd.defra.gov.uk/ website in due course.
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the Animal and Plant Health Agency maps of the Edge area.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
An interactive map showing the different bovine TB risk areas in Great Britain, including England’s Edge Area, can be found here: https://tbhub.co.uk/preventing-tb-breakdowns/bovine-tb-risk-map/.