Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the advice of the SAGE Environmental and Modelling Group on the role of ventilation in controlling covid-19 transmission has been updated since it was published on 23 October 2020.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A summary paper by the Environmental and Modelling Group (EMG) on ventilation actions to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 was published on 18 December 2020 and is available at the following link:
There have been no papers on the application of air cleaning devices and personal decontamination to manage transmission of COVID-19 published by the EMG since 4 November 2020.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with non-emergency patient service providers on the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on their workload.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
We have had no recent discussions.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has allocated to research on the utility and safety of UV-C as a means of tackling the aerosol transmission of viruses that cause covid-19; to which research bodies that funding has been disbursed; and how that funding has been so spent by each of those research bodies.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Two grants totalling £296,049 have been awarded for two trials on far-UVC.
£136,000 has been provided to University of St. Andrews to trial the efficacy of far-UVC radiation technology on droplets, aerosols and surfaces in simulated public locations. £160,049 has been provided to University of Dundee to investigate the effects on human skin from viricidal far-UVC radiation.
The spend to date on both trials is planned but has not yet been accounted for by NHS Test and Trace.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made by (a) the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and (b) his Department of the potential merits of using (a) UV-C systems and (b) H2O2 vapour as methods of air purification in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
In July 2020, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies published a paper on the application of UV disinfection, visible light, local air filtration and fumigation technologies, particularly hydrogen peroxide vapour using H2O2 to microbial control regarding COVID-19 transmission. The paper is available at the following link:
Public Health England (PHE) has undertaken assessments of inactivation methods against COVID 19, including the use of UV-C and H2O2 vapour, with further evaluations ongoing. PHE published guidance on infection prevention and control for COVID-19. Standard use of UV-C and H202 technologies are not recommended as these could be used to supplement existing cleaning and ventilation rather than replace them. Their guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has awarded to the University of Dundee to conduct research on whether ultraviolet-C light is effective against viruses which cause covid-19; and on what date the findings of that research will be reported to the Government.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The University of Dundee is conducting trials on human skin safety and far-UVC light. For this trial a total of £160,049 has been awarded. Results are expected in Quarter 2 in 2022.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to publish a preliminary assessment of the (a) timetable and (b) associated costs for the roll out of water fluoridation in England under the proposed powers in the White Paper, Working together to improve health and social care for all.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Water fluoridation is an effective public health intervention that has the ability to improve oral health and reduce oral health inequalities. We are not yet in a position to share any firm plans for expansion, which would be subject to funding being agreed and public consultation following the successful passage of the Bill.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to autistic adults during the covid-19 outbreak who normally receive social care in the community.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the significant impact that the pandemic has had on autistic people including those who normally receive social care in the community. We have enabled access to the National Health Service volunteer responder scheme, developed tailored guidance for autistic people, informed by stakeholders, and funded autism and learning disability charities with more than £1 million to provide support.
Asked by: Paul Bristow (Conservative - Peterborough)
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 ensure that autistic adults who need a social care assessment are able to receive one during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the significant impact that the pandemic has had on autistic people including those who normally receive social care in the community. We have enabled access to the National Health Service volunteer responder scheme, developed tailored guidance for autistic people, informed by stakeholders, and funded autism and learning disability charities with more than £1 million to provide support.