Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 May 2021 to Question 496 on Coronavirus: Disease Control, whether the UK Health and Safety Laboratory has made an assessment of the potential merits of using hyrodxyl free radical air purification technologies to help stop the primary cause of covid-19 virus transmission via aerosol and water droplets; which companies provided the technology that was used in the assessments of the potential merits of those technologies that has already been undertaken by (a) SAGE and (b) Public Health England; and what the process is for third parties to be able to present to Government the potential use of their technology and credentials to support the undertaking of such assessments.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The UK Health and Safety Laboratory conducted a small pilot study of a number of technologies used as ‘air purifiers’ as a preliminary indication of the potential for these systems to improve air quality. However, this pilot preceded the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore did not focus on airborne virus control.
While the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies undertook a review of existing evidence on the application of UV disinfection, visible light, local air filtration and fumigation technologies to microbial control, it did not make an assessment of technologies supplied by companies. In our earlier answer to Question 496, we stated that Public Health England undertook an assessment of such technologies. However, this information was incorrect and we have amended the record by Written Ministerial Statement on 1 March 2022 HCWS648.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) accepts submissions from companies for technologies and associated credentials. Interested parties can contact UKHSA directly to provide further information on the potential use of such technologies.
Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the comparative financial impact of restrictions on the promotion and placement of products that are high in fat, salt and sugar on (a) lower income and (b) other households; and what steps he plans to take to help mitigate any potential disproportionate impact on lower income households in the context of the rising cost of living.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The impact assessment for volume promotions such as ‘buy one get one free’ shows that it increases spending by 20% by encouraging households to purchase more than they need or intended to buy. The impact assessment for location promotions shows the placement of products within stores also significantly affects household spending, with end of aisle displays increasing sales of soft drinks by over 50%.
Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to mitigate the impact of advertising, promotion and placement restrictions on products that are high in fat, salt and sugar on businesses and jobs in the food and drink manufacturing industry.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The impact assessments for restricting promotions and further advertising restrictions for products high in fat, salt and sugar show a positive net present value for each policy, meaning the health benefits outweigh the costs to business and Government.
Following feedback in response to the public consultations on specific policy proposals on the promotions and placement policy, we have extended the implementation period to October 2022 and included an exemption for micro and small businesses and exempted stores below 185.8 square metres from the location restrictions. On the new advertising restrictions, we have included an exemption for small and medium businesses, brand advertising is out of scope and the online restrictions are limited to paid-for advertising, meaning owned media is out of scope.
Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy reduce covid-19 restrictions for care homes.
Answered by Gillian Keegan
We regularly review and update guidance to ensure it is necessary and proportionate, considering clinical advice and priorities such as maintaining safe staffing levels and ensuring residents have meaningful contact with loved ones. The restrictions are currently in place to keep care home residents safe and will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.
We are currently reviewing our guidance in light of the lifting ‘Plan B’ measures and expect to publish updated advice shortly.
Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimates his Department has made of the number of NHS and social care staff who may lose their employment as a result of the introduction of compulsory covid-19 vaccination in that sector.
Answered by Edward Argar
Decisions on the dismissal of unvaccinated workers, rather than redeployment, if an option, or unpaid leave, will be for individual employers, therefore no specific estimate has been in the Department’s the impact assessment. The impact assessment estimates the number of workers who may remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 at the end of the 12-week grace period and are not medically exempt. This estimated to be 73,000 for National Health Service staff and 38,000 for social care workers in scope. The impact assessment is available at the following link:
Actual figures will depend on individual decisions and the positive choice to take up the offer of COVID-19 vaccination. The Government is focussed on improving vaccine uptake within the health and care workforce and the numbers of vaccinated staff are increasing. There are now 75,000 additional staff working in the NHS who have received a first dose of the vaccine since September.