Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
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 safeguard patients with (a) dementia and (b) other illnesses in the context of the changing way the NHS is having to treat and correspond with patients as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
During the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance to primary care systems stated that a blended approach to appointments should be maintained, using both face to face and remote consultation as per the needs of the patient. This guidance is available at the following link:
We continue to work with stakeholders and health and care system partners to identify and implement actions to support people with dementia and their carers, including modifying dementia diagnosis and care pathways.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there is a way for hon. Members to contact the Vaccine Data Resolution Service.
Answered by Maggie Throup
If an hon. Member wishes to support a constituent in their engagement with the Vaccine Data Resolution Service (VDRS), they can contact NHS England and NHS Improvement directly with the constituent’s details and proof of consent to act on their behalf.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many outstanding cases there are within the vaccine data resolution service; and what the current average wait time for a response.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Information on the number of outstanding cases within the Vaccine Data Resolution Service (VDRS) is not held centrally. As of 28 February 2022, the average time for the VRDS to contact individuals following a referral is three days.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure that pensioners who do not pay council tax are not excluded from the energy council tax support scheme.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Council Tax Energy Rebate will be paid in full to pensioners in England who are in households in bands A-D. This includes pensioners that pay less than £150 or do not pay council tax as a result of Local Council Tax Support. Households in higher bands might be eligible for the discretionary funding administered by local authorities if they are not eligible for the core rebate scheme.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published guidance on eligibility and the approach to households that are exempt from council tax.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has any plans to change the rules on child tax credit to allow it to be split across couples who share custody jointly.
Answered by Simon Clarke
Child Tax Credit (CTC) supports families with the extra costs of raising a child. The Government currently has no plans for splitting CTC in cases where parents have joint care, because there are provisions in place allowing parents to make a joint election as to who should receive the payments. Where parents cannot agree, HM Revenue & Customs can decide who shall be entitled based on the information provided by both parents and the facts in relation to each’s circumstances.
CTC is typically paid to the main carer because they bear more of the expenditure for the child and splitting payments would reduce the amount available to them, when they are often the parent less well placed to earn additional income, and might result in neither household being able to afford extra costs. Unfortunately, there can be no guarantee that both parties will be satisfied with the outcome, although this would equally be the case should parents have to agree how payments were split if formal arrangements for this were put in place. Therefore, ideally, parents should reach agreement between themselves.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on discussions with the British Veterinary Association to address concerns on veterinary capacity to complete and issue Animal Health Certificates.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Animal Health Certificate (AHC) format is mandated by the EU, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has taken steps to help Official Veterinarians (OVs) complete them including by developing a model AHC together with accompanying printable guidance and associated training. APHA has publicised the availability of the training relating to completing AHCs. The model AHC is easily available online and can be accessed by all qualified OVs at any time.
We are continuing to engage with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) to develop additional guidance to support vets in completing and issuing AHCs. This includes the development of a 'checklist', which can be used in addition to the comprehensive guidance already available to vets, and an explainer video that will guide vets through a worked-up AHC example.
Defra is taking steps, working with the BVA and other stakeholders, to increase veterinary capacity across all sectors. We have secured the place of veterinary surgeons on the Home Office Shortage Occupation List, making it easier for UK employers to recruit vets from overseas. In addition, we are looking at ways to further enable the use of allied professionals where appropriate to help reduce the workload of the vet professional, including giving careful consideration to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ proposals for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
The number of OVs (working in private practice) who are able to issue AHCs is currently 7,896. Defra does not hold information on the related number of veterinary practices that are able to issue AHCs.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made in its discussions with the EU on changing the status of the UK to a Part 1 country so that Animal Health Certificate’s would no longer be required.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The UK has been formally ‘listed’ as a ‘Part 2’ third country for the purposes of the EU pet travel scheme, which means that new rules apply to pet movements from Great Britain to the EU and to Northern Ireland. The pet health and documentary requirements for such pet travel are set out under the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Defra recognises the impact that these changes are having on pet owners and assistance dog users. We are continuing to seek agreement from the European Commission on awarding GB ‘Part 1’ listed status and recognition of the UK’s tapeworm-free status, and we see no valid animal health reason for these not to be granted.
Achieving these would alleviate a number of pet travel rules for all travellers, including the need for an Animal Health Certificate. We have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity and we are engaging with the EU to progress this issue.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has plans to tackle the refusal by some covid-19 testing companies to provide refunds in the event that problems arise with testing kits.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Those purchasing tests from private providers have access to the full range of consumer rights and as individuals are contracting a private service, we advise customers to report any issues directly to the test provider. If the issue cannot be resolved, the consumer should contact their local Citizens Advice Bureau.
We monitor issues raised by the public, data submitted by providers and reports from regulatory and oversight bodies on providers. we become aware that a provider is not meeting the required minimum standards or that their activities may be putting public safety at risk, we will ask them to take remedial action. We may also remove their listing from GOV.UK. In certain circumstances, we will support regulatory bodies undertaking further investigation of a provider and support any legal actions or interventions.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to review legislation in place on fireworks.
Answered by Paul Scully
There is a comprehensive regulatory framework already in place for fireworks. The Government’s aim is to strike the right balance for people to enjoy fireworks, whilst aiming to reduce risks and disturbances to people, animals, and property.
The Government has no current plans to place further restrictions on the sale of fireworks to the public.
Asked by: Alan Campbell (Labour - Tynemouth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Bangladesh on permitting Khaleda Zia to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Lord Ahmad, the Minister for South Asia, visited Bangladesh on 15 November to 17 November and met with the Government of Bangladesh, civil society actors and other key figures. During the visit, Lord Ahmad reiterated the UK's commitment to supporting human rights and democratic values.
We will continue to stress to the Government of Bangladesh, both in public and in private, the importance of respect for human rights and the rule of law. We expect those in detention, including Khaleda Zia, to be treated in accordance with Bangladesh's international commitments on human rights. We regularly engage with the Government of Bangladesh on the treatment of those in detention and on the integrity and independence of the judicial process.