Asked by: Lord Wei (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Kaftrio is available to cystic fibrosis patients in England; if not, why not; if it is available to such patients, whether there are any restrictions on that drug's availability; and if so, why.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Kaftrio is available to National Health Service patients in England in line with its license through an interim access deal negotiated between NHS England and NHS Improvement and Vertex, the drug manufacturer. This deal will last for four years and means that eligible NHS patients are among the first in Europe to benefit from access to Kaftrio.
As part of this deal, NHS England and NHS Improvement committed to expanding patient access to Kaftrio to cover any future license extensions by the European Medicines Agency.
Asked by: Lord Wei (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have stopped issuing (1) National Insurance numbers, and (2) other documents required to prove identity, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and if so, what measures they are putting in place to allow this service to resume.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues to allocate National Insurance Numbers (NiNo), however, at present this service is currently limited to specific customer groups.
On 17 March, due to COVID-19, the face-to-face interview process for NINo applications was suspended, this was then extended to all employment inspired NINo activity, on 25 March. The suspension of this service enabled DWP to deploy the people engaged in this activity to support the processing of the substantial number of requests received for financial support for citizens impacted by COVID-19.
Applications for those requiring a NINo for the payment of Social Security benefits has continued throughout the pandemic.
On 1 June a limited service was reinstated for NINo applicants, requiring a NINo for employment purposes, who did not need a face-to-face interview to verify their identity.
When applying for a NINo, all applicants are required to have their identity verified. Where applicants have had their identity verified by another UK Government Department, primarily the Home Office as part of their visa application, their application for a NINo can be dealt with by post.
However, for those who have not had their identity verified, primarily UK and European Union/European Economic Area nationals, the process requires them to attend a face-to-face interview with DWP. During the face-to-face interview, the applicant will be asked to present photo identity documents such as a passport or National Identity Card, issued by their country of origin, which is then checked for authenticity using specialist document examination equipment.
DWP is currently working on a digital solution that will reduce the length of the NINo interview and will enable the reinstatement of a shortened face-to-face service. This service is expected to be available by mid-October, but will be to a limited number of applicants (initially 550 a day), as the digital solution is tested with the expectation that it will be available to all applicants later in the year.
Asked by: Lord Wei (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on the implementation of the Life Chances programme; and what are their future plans for the Life Chances Fund.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Wei (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the statement by the Prime Minister’s spokesman on 7 February that she would be visiting China later this year to discuss trade ties, what progress they have made in arranging that visit.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Wei (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the impact on jobs of increasing automation, what steps they are taking to (1) assess new types of work which may arise, (2) stimulate new businesses, and (3) encourage the adjustment of workplace training, to accommodate new technologies.
Answered by Lord Prior of Brampton
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.