Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
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 adequate stocks of diabetic (a) equipment and (b) medicine remain available in pharmacies across the UK in the context of the shortage of HGV drivers.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department continues to engage closely with the sector to assess the impact of logistics and supply disruptions on the continued supply of medical products, including the impact of HGV driver shortages. Whilst we were made aware of some localised concerns, there have not been any significant impacts on medical supply chains that have impacted on patients.
The Department has contingency plans in place to help ensure continuity of supply of medical products, including the following;
These plans, alongside other mitigations, enable us to help ensure continued supply during periods of national disruption, including for diabetic equipment and medicine in pharmacies. Pharmacists should continue to place orders in the normal way. If pharmacists have any concerns regarding supply, they should continue to report them via the normal route.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the shortage of HGV drivers on medical supply chains for pharmacies.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department continues to engage closely with the sector to assess the impact of logistics and supply disruptions on the continued supply of medical products, including the impact of HGV driver shortages. Whilst we were made aware of some localised concerns, there have not been any significant impacts on medical supply chains that have impacted on patients.
The Department has contingency plans in place to help ensure continuity of supply of medical products, including the following;
These plans, alongside other mitigations, enable us to help ensure continued supply during periods of national disruption, including for diabetic equipment and medicine in pharmacies. Pharmacists should continue to place orders in the normal way. If pharmacists have any concerns regarding supply, they should continue to report them via the normal route.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost of publishing the names of companies in the fast-track PPE procurement lane.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We have not made this estimate.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government will recognise as valid in England the EU Digital COVID Certificates of people resident in the UK who have been vaccinated in an EU member state in the event that proof of covid-19 vaccination is required.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The United Kingdom already accepts the EU Digital COVID Certificate as proof of vaccination for international travel.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government plans to take to determine the appropriateness of hotels for use as Managed Quarantine Facilities.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are working closely with the hospitality sector providing the quarantine accommodation and continue to monitor the operation of the managed quarantine scheme to ensure it remains appropriate and can meet future demand.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department spent on (a) communications, (b) advertising and (c) marketing in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) Northern Ireland, (iv) Scotland and (v) Wales in each month from August 2020 to December 2020.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department did not run any paid for communications, advertising or marketing activity centrally between August 2020 and December 2020.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any research has been carried out on the effect of passive exposure to exhaled e-cigarette vapour or cigarette smoke on the transmission of covid-19.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department has not carried out any research in this area and is not aware of any external research at present. Being in close proximity to anyone with COVID-19 infection would carry a risk of passing on that infection regardless of whether they are smoking or vaping. Public Health England has published COVID-19 advice for smokers and vapers which recommends that vapers avoid exhaling clouds of vapour in the presence of others. This advice is available at the following link:
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with the Health and Safety Executive on gathering and retaining data during the covid-19 outbreak on health and safety breaches regarding pregnant women and new mothers.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The methods for collecting meaningful data on health and safety breaches regarding pregnant women and new mothers during the COVID-19 outbreak are complex and unlikely to result in a data set that can provide useful information.
The Department is working with the Health and Safety Executive, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and health departments in the devolved nations on developing guidance on occupational health advice for pregnant women in the workplace. The Department plans to publish the guidance shortly.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue guidance to employers to allow all pregnant women who pass (a) 20 weeks or (b) 28 weeks gestation to work from home or be suspended on full pay during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Department is working with the Health and Safety Executive, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and health departments in the devolved administrations on developing guidance on occupational health advice for pregnant women in the workplace. The Department plans to publish the guidance shortly.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce and promote standard procedures and contracts to deter poor employment practices in the social care sector.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government does not have direct responsibility for pay or wider terms and conditions in adult social care in England.
The Government nonetheless maintains oversight of the social care system and we are committed to raising the profile of the social care sector. The Government expects local authorities to commission care at a rate that allows providers to employ the staff they need to deliver quality care.