Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made about the potential impact of high veterinary bills on animal health.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made about the potential impact of high veterinary bills in the context of the cost of living pressures.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent conversations her Department has had with the Competition and Market Authority regarding veterinary bill costs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase transparency of the prices of veterinary bills.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made on the affordability of veterinary bills.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department are taking to help support people with veterinary bills.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 support parents and families who lose a child to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the devastating impact of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC) on affected families and communities. It is important that grieving families and friends who have lost loved ones have access to the support they need, when they need it.
Bereavement support, including for parents and families affected by SUDC, is commissioned locally, in accordance with the needs of the local population. Information on SUDC is available on the National Health Service website, which also signposts to the charity SUDC.UK. This is available at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids
The Department funds research into SUDC through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Recent NIHR‑funded research includes studies focused on the promotion of safer sleeping practices for families at increased risk, the identification and management of genetic and cardiac risk factors, and the improvement of support for bereaved families.
The NIHR actively encourages and funds high-quality research into SUDC, ensuring flexibility in both the funding and research type to meet the needs of patients and families.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 increase research into Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the devastating impact of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC) on affected families and communities. It is important that grieving families and friends who have lost loved ones have access to the support they need, when they need it.
Bereavement support, including for parents and families affected by SUDC, is commissioned locally, in accordance with the needs of the local population. Information on SUDC is available on the National Health Service website, which also signposts to the charity SUDC.UK. This is available at the following link:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids
The Department funds research into SUDC through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Recent NIHR‑funded research includes studies focused on the promotion of safer sleeping practices for families at increased risk, the identification and management of genetic and cardiac risk factors, and the improvement of support for bereaved families.
The NIHR actively encourages and funds high-quality research into SUDC, ensuring flexibility in both the funding and research type to meet the needs of patients and families.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
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 research into Functional Neurological Disorder.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department delivers research into functional neurological disorder (FND) via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
This includes £350,000 of NIHR funding for research which seeks to co-develop behaviour change interventions to support people with FND to rehabilitate within the community, with the help of occupational therapists, enhancing their abilities to self-manage symptoms within daily routines.
The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including FND. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with UK fishers on (a) challenges and (b) support required.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra Ministers meet with representatives of the fishing industry regularly to discuss a wide variety of issues including to understand their perspectives on challenges and support they need.