Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the strength of China’s role in the rare earth mineral supply chain on the supply of electric vehicles in the UK.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The automotive sector relies on rare earths for magnets in electric vehicle motors, and other critical minerals – like lithium, graphite and cobalt – for batteries.
Of the 18 critical minerals defined in the UK criticality assessment, China is the largest producer for 12 of them as refined products. China produced 76% of rare earth elements between 2016 and 2020.[1]
We are working closely with international partners in the G7, International Energy Agency and Mineral Security Partnership to strengthen and diversify our critical mineral supply chains and improve environmental and social governance – including engaging with China to achieve our objectives.
[1] British Geological Survey, World Mineral Statistics Database 2022
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of regional differences in access to multidisciplinary support on Parkinson's care.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to regulate the use of deeds of assignment in taxation mandates by practitioner agents.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Government launched a consultation “Raising standards in tax advice: protecting customers claiming tax repayments” on 22 June 2022, which proposes measures to prohibit the assignment of tax repayments. This consultation forms part of the Government’s agenda to raise standards in the market for tax advice. It will close on 14 September 2022, after which the Government will set out how it will proceed.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK can deliver blood products to the Ukrainian defence forces through the channels being used to supply military equipment.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence has not received requests from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) for increased supplies of blood products. The UK will continue to review any potential requests from the AFU and will work with Allies and partners to best ensure it is medically equipped.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Ukrainian defence forces currently need increased supplies of blood products; and what assessment he has made of potential future Ukrainian defence forces requirements for those products.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence has not received requests from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) for increased supplies of blood products. The UK will continue to review any potential requests from the AFU and will work with Allies and partners to best ensure it is medically equipped.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the United Kingdom is providing the Ukrainian defence forces with blood products.
Answered by James Heappey
We are not providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine with blood products, nor have we received such requests.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of levels of adherence to the guidance entitled Excellence in Continence Care.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Integrated care boards (ICBs) will take on the commissioning functions of clinical commissioning groups and some of NHS England’s commissioning functions. While there are no specific requirements to assess local continence needs, ICBs will be responsible for providing a comprehensive health service for the local population based on its needs.
No assessment has yet been made of levels of adherence to the Excellence in Continence Care guidance. However, NHS England is planning an assessment of adherence to Excellence in Continence Care, which is anticipated to start later in 2022.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether integrated care systems have assessed local continence needs; and whether his Department has a strategy in place to meet such needs from April 2022.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
Integrated care boards (ICBs) will take on the commissioning functions of clinical commissioning groups and some of NHS England’s commissioning functions. While there are no specific requirements to assess local continence needs, ICBs will be responsible for providing a comprehensive health service for the local population based on its needs.
No assessment has yet been made of levels of adherence to the Excellence in Continence Care guidance. However, NHS England is planning an assessment of adherence to Excellence in Continence Care, which is anticipated to start later in 2022.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent progress he has made on forming the cross-departmental taskforce on older people's housing.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As announced in the Levelling Up White Paper, a new taskforce on older people's housing will be launched shortly, looking at ways we can provide greater choice, quality and security of housing for older people. This work will be taken forward in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care.
Further details regarding the remit of the taskforce, as well as the timing and frequency of meetings will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the cross-department taskforce on older people's housing will be formed.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As announced in the Levelling Up White Paper, a new taskforce on older people's housing will be launched shortly, looking at ways we can provide greater choice, quality and security of housing for older people. This work will be taken forward in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care.
Further details regarding the remit of the taskforce, as well as the timing and frequency of meetings will be confirmed in due course.