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Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Thursday 3rd December 2020

Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Bethell on 1 October (HL Deb col 287), how they calculated the figure that 89 per cent of the population have telephones whose hardware and software is compatible with the NHS COVID-19 application; and what assessment they have made of the accuracy of this calculation in the light of (1) Office for National Statistics data on smartphone ownership, and (2) reports of the application's lack of compatibility with some smartphone operating systems.

Answered by Lord Bethell

Estimates using the latest data directly from Apple and Google show that 89% of people with a smartphone in the United Kingdom are able to use the app. These are a device that can install a version of the iOS or Android operating system with the contact tracing technology the National Health Service COVID-19 app uses. For Apple this is iOS versions 13.5 and higher and for Android version Marshmallow (v6.0) and higher. The 89% estimate is made up of 87% of iOS smartphone owners and 93% of Android smartphone owners.

Written Question
In Vitro Fertilisation
Tuesday 20th October 2020

Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the outcome of the consultation on egg, sperm and embryo storage limits.

Answered by Lord Bethell

The public consultation for Statutory Storage Limits for eggs, sperm and embryos completed earlier this year and received a large number of responses, with a wide range of views on this issue.

The Department is currently reviewing these responses and a Government response to the consultation is expected to be published in early 2021.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 01 Oct 2020
Covid-19: NHS Application

"Does the Minister agree that the purpose of tracing is defeated if millions of people cannot download the app because their phones are a few years old, even models as recent as those from 2018? I discovered this and felt obliged to spend a great deal of money upgrading and …..."
Baroness Deech - View Speech

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Written Question
In Vitro Fertilisation
Monday 20th July 2020

Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Fertility treatment 2018: trends and figures, published on 30 June, which reported that "since 2013, the number of egg and embryo storage cycles increased fivefold to just under 9,000 cycles in 2018", what plans they have to expedite legislation to remove the 10-year time limit for which frozen eggs and embryos can be stored.

Answered by Lord Bethell

The Government ran a public consultation between 11 February and 5 May 2020, seeking views about changing the statutory storage limits for embryos and gametes. The Department is currently analysing responses. We intend to publish a Government response to the consultation later this year, which will our outline our plans.

In the meantime, the Government has given a two-year extension to all those with embryos and gametes in storage, who have been affected by delays to treatment caused by the response to COVID-19. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 were laid on 3 June 2020 and cover anyone who has not been able to access treatment as a result of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority temporarily suspending fertility treatment services on 23 March 2020.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 18 May 2020
Draft Human Tissue (Permitted Material: Exceptions) (England) Regulations 2020

"My Lords, I have another question about the section raised a moment ago by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay. The Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019 inserts the following into the Human Tissue Act:

“The person concerned is to be deemed”—


for the purposes of another subsection—

…..."
Baroness Deech - View Speech

View all Baroness Deech (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Draft Human Tissue (Permitted Material: Exceptions) (England) Regulations 2020
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 22 Oct 2019
Queen’s Speech

"My Lords, the guiding principles of our health service are compassion, healing, prevention and equality. Every patient has their own concerns; all are to be treated as valuable individuals and not as units of whom we disapprove or with whom we have no empathy. Therefore, I again urge the Minister …..."
Baroness Deech - View Speech

View all Baroness Deech (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Queen’s Speech
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 Feb 2019
Human Fertilisation and Embryology: Frozen Eggs Storage

"To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to review the compliance with human rights law of the 10-year limit for storing frozen eggs in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990...."
Baroness Deech - View Speech

View all Baroness Deech (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Human Fertilisation and Embryology: Frozen Eggs Storage
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 Feb 2019
Human Fertilisation and Embryology: Frozen Eggs Storage

"My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and declare my interest as former chair of the HFEA...."
Baroness Deech - View Speech

View all Baroness Deech (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Human Fertilisation and Embryology: Frozen Eggs Storage
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 Feb 2019
Human Fertilisation and Embryology: Frozen Eggs Storage

"Does the Minister appreciate that this lack of compassion and misunderstanding of the law is going to bring defeat in the courts soon? The storage period of 10 years for frozen eggs was set when little was known about the science, so women either exercise that option when they are …..."
Baroness Deech - View Speech

View all Baroness Deech (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Human Fertilisation and Embryology: Frozen Eggs Storage
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 23 Nov 2018
Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill

"My Lords, at first sight this Bill is welcome and straightforward. It certainly is welcome, and appreciation is due to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, and to all those who have promoted it.

I admit that my views are coloured by having been chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology …..."
Baroness Deech - View Speech

View all Baroness Deech (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill