Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of Evusheld by other countries; and what data they have received on that drug’s efficiency at combatting the effects of COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce engages with other nations on the use, deployment and evaluation of therapeutics and antivirals. We understand that more than 20 countries have procured Evusheld and a proportion have begun to deploy the treatment.
AstraZeneca announced positive trial data from the PROVENT trial, which showed Evusheld’s efficacy against developing symptomatic COVID-19. However, this trial took place prior to the emergence of the Omicron variant. The TACKLE study will provide additional efficacy data on Evusheld for the treatment of COVID-19. AstraZeneca commissioned the UK Health Security Agency to undertake testing into the effectiveness of Evusheld against the Omicron variants. Initial data against BA.1 and BA.2 has been shared with AstraZeneca. The Department is currently reviewing the efficacy of Evusheld for prophylaxis.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of Evusheld on the protection of patients with metastatic cancer from COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Department is currently assessing Evusheld, which includes requesting clinicians to advise on the most appropriate option for the National Health Service with the available data, the public health situation and other treatments available. We expect to receive clinical advice shortly.
The Therapeutics Clinical Review Panel provides advice on the most appropriate patient cohorts for new COVID-19 therapies, including preventative treatments. However, we are currently unable to confirm the efficacy of Evusheld for specific patient groups. Final clinical policies and eligibility would be proposed by the NHS and agreed by the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of immunocompromised individuals who would benefit from access to Evusheld if it became available.
Answered by Lord Kamall
Urgent work is underway with clinical experts to estimate the size of the cohort. The Therapeutics Clinical Review Panel provides advice on the most appropriate patient cohorts for new COVID-19 therapies, including preventative treatments. Final clinical policies and eligibility would be proposed by the National Health Service and agreed by the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health and Social Care on 7 June (1507), when they expect the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) testing review of Evusheld to be completed.
Answered by Lord Kamall
AstraZeneca commissioned the UK Health Strategic Authority (UKHSA) to complete testing into the effectiveness of Evusheld against the Omicron variants. The initial testing is now complete and data has been shared with AstraZeneca. After reviewing the data, it is a matter for AstraZeneca to determine whether to commission further testing, therefore we are unable to confirm when testing will be completed.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to passing emergency legislation to prevent the use of trusts as a means of evading sanctions imposed on oligarchs.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have been moving at pace to sanction those propping up Putin's regime. Our sanctions since the invasion cover more than 1,200 Russian and Belarussian individuals, entities and subsidiaries at the heart of, or supporting, Putin's regime. This includes travel bans and asset freezes applied to Russia's leading oligarchs, with a combined worth in excess of £100 billion. Measures taken so far are historic and are having a real impact on Putin and his war machine. Nothing and no one is off the table.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the increase in cost to the buyers of Russian (1) oil, and (2) gas, in the UK of a ban on the import of these products.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK is in not dependent on Russian gas. In 2021 it made up less than 4% of UK supply. The integrated nature of the European gas market, and the fact that gas is an international traded commodity, means that factors that influence European or internationally prices are likely to be reflected in UK prices. The Government remains confident in the UK’s energy security and the UK’s highly diverse sources of gas supply.
Crude oil operates in an international market and influenced by a range of supply and demand factors. The phasing out of Russian imports will not be immediate, but allows the UK time to adjust its supply chains.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what they consider would constitute the withdrawal of banking services from the Central Bank of Russia by the Bank of International Settlements; what discussions they have had with the Bank of England about the withdrawal; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the measures to withdraw such banking services from Russia.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The government and Bank of England have cooperated closely in implementing sanctions on Russia and will continue to do so. Decisions over the nature of services provided by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) are a matter for that body and its members. The Bank of England, which is the United Kingdom’s member, has engaged with the BIS on this issue. The BIS has suspended access of the Central Bank of Russia to all BIS services, meetings and other BIS activities. The government is confident that the range of unprecedented measures announced by the international community are having a significant effect on the Russian economy undermining its ability to wage war in Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) presence, and (2) active participation, of UK citizens in conflict zones in Ukraine; and what advice they provide to UK citizens regarding any potential legal consequences of such presence or participation.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is not supporting British nationals going to Ukraine to fight in the conflict. We advise against travel to Ukraine and anyone who travels to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return to the UK.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the governments of (1) Poland, and (2) the United States of America, to facilitate the transfer of MiG-25s to Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The UK has not been approached formally by Ukraine to provide or backfill aircraft and therefore has made no representations to the governments of Poland, and the United States of America, to facilitate the transfer of MiG-25s to Ukraine.
However, the MOD is currently discussing all aspects of support with the Government of Ukraine. We are committed to supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russia's illegal and unjustified aggression, and to helping our allies to do the same. Decisions on what defensive support to provide rests with individual governments.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to a no-fly zone in Ukrainian airspace, limited to humanitarian corridors.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Enforcing a no-fly zone would very likely lead to direct combat between NATO and Russian jets. The risks of escalation would be extremely high, and the potential consequences would be catastrophic for the entire world - including Ukraine. A no-fly zone would also apply to Ukrainian aircraft, preventing them from attacking from the air and allowing the vast Russian ground forces to move around freely.