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Written Question
High Speed 2 Line
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many boreholes along the HS2 Phase 2 route have (a) been filled and (b) had land restored since the decision to cancel Phase 2; and when he expects the work of removing boreholes and compounds along the Phase 2 route be completed.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Work continues to develop the closedown, remediation, and demobilisation plan for Phase 2. A further update will be provided in the next HS2 parliamentary report.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Line: Staffordshire
Wednesday 20th March 2024

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the value engineering report for the design of the proposed Handsacre Junction of HS2 from 2018.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department does not hold and is not aware of a value engineering report of the proposed HS2 Handsacre Junction from 2018.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Line: Staffordshire
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the value engineering report for the design of the proposed Handsacre Junction of HS2.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

There have been no value engineering reports on Handsacre junction since Network North. Previous decisions to change the design of Handsacre junction were made to reduce costs and disruption for passengers on the West Coast Main Line during construction, which was value for money given the previous plan to deliver Phase 2a on an accelerated timeframe would have resulted in the use of the junction for more than 1 train per hour in each direction only for a very short period.


Written Question
Avanti West Coast: Rolling Stock
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on (a) whether any issues were identified during the testing of new Hitachi AT300 rolling stock to replace Voyager on Avanti West Coast services, (b) whether an assessment has been made of the potential effect of the lack of tilt mechanism for those trains on (i) maintaining safe operation around bends at speed, (ii) journey times and (iii) rail timetables and (c) for what reason the tender for the rolling stock replacement for Voyager on Avanti West Coast services did not specify the inclusion of a tilt mechanism.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The procurement, safety risk assessment, and safe operation of the Hitachi AT300 rolling stock is the responsibility of the operator. When running rolling stock procurements, operators take account of factors such as what products are available to the market, reliability, operating cost, passenger capacity, comfort and environmental performance. Network Rail is currently upgrading infrastructure on parts of the West Coast Main Line to allow higher speed running with non-tilting trains. The Office of Rail and Road is responsible for ensuring the new trains meet rail safety regulatory requirements before they can operate on the mainline.

The Department is looking forward to the introduction of Avanti West Coast's brand new Hitachi rolling stock later this year which will replace its current diesel fleet in line with the Department's goal to run a more sustainable railway, resulting in a 61 per cent cut in carbon emissions, as well as offering more space and a quieter journey for passengers.


Written Question
Vaccination: Manufacturing Industries
Thursday 9th November 2023

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) UK’s vaccine vial production capability, (b) reliance of the UK on the import of medical grade vials and (c) security of UK supply chains in the event of a future pandemic.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

The Department for Business and Trade has not conducted assessments on these specific goods. The Government has established strategic partnerships with industry to maintain security of vaccine supply in the event of a pandemic. This includes our partnership with Moderna which is building an innovation and technology centre with capacity from 2025 to produce up to 250 million doses of mRNA vaccines annually onshore in the United Kingdom.

The UK Health Security Agency has also agreed an advanced purchase agreement with Seqirus UK Limited to access 100 million vaccines if a future influenza pandemic is declared. The manufacturing process will be based entirely in the UK, giving better security of access if global demand ever outweighs supply. As part of these contracts, the Government regularly assesses risks that may impact the performance of the contract.


Written Question
Vaccination: Manufacturing Industries
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of the UK’s vaccine vial production capability, (b) reliance of the UK on the import of medical grade vials and (c) security of UK supply chains in the event of a future pandemic.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.


Written Question
Heart Diseases: Medical Equipment
Thursday 13th July 2023

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to roll out the implantable cardiac monitoring commissioning system used in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to other Integrated Care Boards in England.

Answered by Will Quince

Implantable cardiac monitors are used successfully by patients across England and within the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidance in September 2020 on the use of implantable cardiac monitors. National Health Service trusts are currently using such devices in stroke prevention throughout England. It is for local integrated care systems to determine the appropriate cardiac monitoring devices for their populations’ commissioners.


Written Question
Heart Diseases: Medical Equipment
Thursday 13th July 2023

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to implantable cardiac monitors in (a) England and (b) Stoke-on-Trent South constituency.

Answered by Will Quince

Implantable cardiac monitors are used successfully by patients across England and within the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidance in September 2020 on the use of implantable cardiac monitors. National Health Service trusts are currently using such devices in stroke prevention throughout England. It is for local integrated care systems to determine the appropriate cardiac monitoring devices for their populations’ commissioners.


Written Question
Heart Diseases: Medical Equipment
Thursday 13th July 2023

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to use implantable cardiac monitoring for secondary stroke prevention in the NHS.

Answered by Will Quince

Implantable cardiac monitors are used successfully by patients across England and within the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published guidance in September 2020 on the use of implantable cardiac monitors. National Health Service trusts are currently using such devices in stroke prevention throughout England. It is for local integrated care systems to determine the appropriate cardiac monitoring devices for their populations’ commissioners.


Written Question
Safer Streets Fund
Wednesday 12th July 2023

Asked by: Jack Brereton (Conservative - Stoke-on-Trent South)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to open the next round of the Safer Streets Fund to funding bids; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

Round 5 of the Safer Streets Fund was formally announced via a Written Ministerial Statement by the Home Secretary on the 6th July.