Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
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 help ensure that children with suspected allergies receive a diagnosis.
Answered by Will Quince
To support healthcare professionals in ensuring that children with suspected allergies receive a diagnosis, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a range of evidence-based best practice guidance for clinicians and commissioners. These include guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of drug and food allergy in under-19s [CG116]; the diagnosis and management of atopic eczema in the under-12s [CG57]; and diagnosing, monitoring, and managing asthma in adults, young people and children [NG80].
NICE guidelines represent best practice, and health professionals, including general practitioners, are expected to take them fully into account. It should be noted, however, that the guidelines are not mandatory and do not replace the judgement of clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for individual patients.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to support people who have been diagnosed with leukaemia.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department has taken steps to ensure that the National Health Service prioritises cancer treatment, including leukaemia. The NHS Long Term Plan states that, where appropriate, every person diagnosed with cancer will have access to personalised care, including needs assessment, a care plan and health and wellbeing information and support. This includes provision of end of treatment summaries, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer. To support delivery of our cancer care priorities, including expanding treatment capacity across NHS hospital trusts, NHS England is providing over £390 million in cancer service development funding to Cancer Alliances.
More treatment is happening, with over 335,000 people receiving their first cancer treatment in the 12 months leading up to June 2023, representing an increase of more than 22,000 on the same period pre-pandemic. More information on cancer waiting times is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/
We are committed to ensuring that all cancer patients get access to interventions, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department plans to take to support veterans with increases in the cost of living.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
This Government is committed to supporting all households, including veterans, with the cost of living through initiatives such as cost of living payments.
Veterans in receipt of disability benefits, including the Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance or the Mobility Supplement under the War Pension Scheme, are among those eligible for a £150 disability cost of living payment.
We encourage veterans in need of support to contact the Veterans' Gateway on 0808 802 1212, where a range of information and support services can be accessed.
Fundamentally, the best way that we can tackle increased pressures on the cost of living is by reducing inflation, and that is what this Government is committed to do.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
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 support local pharmacies.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2019-24 five-year deal commits £2.592 billion each year to the sector. In September 2022, we announced an additional one-off £100 million investment across this and last financial year. In May 2023, as part of the Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, we announced a further investment of up to £645 million over two years to expand the services offered by community pharmacies.
In addition to providing funding, we are working with the sector to implement regulatory changes that reduce pressure on pharmacies without compromising the quality and safety of services.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
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 treatment for people who have had a stroke.
Answered by Will Quince
The National Stroke Service Model, published by NHS England in May 2021, articulates optimal evidenced-based stroke care. Patients are expected to be seen by a stroke specialist clinician within 60 minutes of arrival and have their treatment plan determined.
From 1 April 2021, 20 Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks (ISDNs) were established giving full coverage across England. ISDNs include all key stakeholders across the system including providers, commissioners, clinicians and patient representative across the whole stroke pathway.
ISDNs are responsible for delivering optimal stroke pathways, based on best evidence, which ensures that more people who experience a stroke receive high-quality specialist care, from pre-hospital, through to rehabilitation and life after stroke.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps to ensure (a) fair pricing and (b) continuity across regions for petrol.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government will consult on the design of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recommendations to create a statutory open data scheme for road fuel prices and an ongoing road fuels monitoring function this autumn. These two recommendations will help to facilitate competition and fair pricing, nationally and locally, as well as helping tackle regional price disparities.
Until we can put these changes on a statutory footing, the government has supported the CMA to establish an interim voluntary fuel price data sharing scheme, encouraging retailers to share prices daily. The CMA will also continue to monitor fuel prices using its existing powers.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to reduce taxes on lower earners.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
As with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps income tax and NICs rates under review. Any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor at fiscal events in the context of the wider public finances.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to facilitate family reunions for asylum seekers who are sent to Rwanda.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Everyone considered for relocation to Rwanda will be screened and have access to legal advice. Decisions will be taken on a case-by-case basis and nobody will be removed if it is unsafe for them.
We will thoroughly consider the circumstances of cases involving families with children according to our policy, statutory and international obligations. A full equality impact assessment has been published on gov.uk.
Individuals with family in the UK may still be relocated to Rwanda subject to a detailed consideration of their Article 8 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
For those with family links in the UK who want to be considered for entry to the UK, they should seek to do so via safe and legal routes.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that refugees who have used safe and legal routes of entry are not inadvertently deported to Rwanda.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
As set out in the Home Office’s Inadmissibility guidance, an asylum claimant may be eligible for removal to Rwanda if their claim is inadmissible under this policy and (a) that claimant’s journey to the UK can be described as having been dangerous and (b) was made on or after 1 January 2022. A dangerous journey is one able or likely to cause harm or injury. This would therefore not include those who have arrived in the UK through safe and legal routes of entry.
A case-by-case assessment will take place for every individual considered for relocation. No one will be relocated if it is unsafe for them.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Court of Appeal's decision of 29 June 2023 on the UK’s migration and economic development partnership with Rwanda, whether she has taken recent steps to consider alternative options for housing people arriving in the UK who have crossed the English Channel in small boats.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
While we are disappointed with the Court of Appeal’s ruling in relation to deficiencies in Rwanda’s asylum system that risk returning people inappropriately when they have a need for protection, we have been granted permission to appeal this judgement to the Supreme Court.
We continue to bring forward alternative accommodation options to reduce hotel use. We are standing up alternative accommodation sites including the sites of Scampton and Wethersfield.
In addition, the government is also seeking to use vessels to provide accommodation in line with the approach taken by countries like the Netherlands.