Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his German counterpart on Germany's refusal to permit the entry of British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I have not made representations on this matter.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking to support the roll-out of human papillomavirus vaccines worldwide.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK supports human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes in developing countries through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is the second largest donor to Gavi, having committing £1.65 billion over 2021-2025. The UK was a vocal advocate for inclusion of the HPV vaccine into Gavi's portfolio to help protect the most vulnerable girls from the leading cause of cervical cancer. Since 2014 Gavi has fully immunised 48.2 million girls and aims to immunise a total of 86 million girls by the end of 2025.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of suspending the Government’s (a) trade agreements and (b) arms licenses with Israel.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK's strategic partnership with Israel includes trade. As the Secretary of State for Business and Trade told the House on 7 March, Israel remains a part of the FTA programme, negotiations continue, and she has recently discussed with the Israeli Minister of Economy our existing trading relationship as well as how Israel is managing the challenges of working on an FTA while fighting a war.
All export license applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what representations he has made to the Israeli government since it announced it would open a new aid crossing into northern Gaza; and what steps he plans to take to help (a) prevent starvation of Palestinian citizens and (b) ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. The UK is playing a leadership role in alleviating that suffering. We are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. On 20 March, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK has funded WFP to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. For example, on 20 March, the Royal Air Force airdropped 10 tonnes of food aid - including water, rice and baby food - directly to civilians in Gaza.
The British Government has pressed Israeli counterparts to increase the flow of aid into Gaza.
On 5th April Israel committed to significant steps to increase the amount of aid getting to Gaza, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint.
The UK has urged Israel to take these steps for a long time and they are welcome. We are resolved that the international community will work with Israel to see these vital changes fully implemented.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the (a) symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and (b) support available for patients and families.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has produced a guide on musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which is available at the following link:
The Department is currently developing a Major Conditions Strategy, in consultation with NHS England and colleagues across the Government. Given their contribution to the burden of disease, MSK conditions such as arthritis will be included in the strategy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced expert guidance to support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The guidance for the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is available, respectively, at the following links:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng100
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226
From 2022/23 to 2024/25, the Government is spending more than £11.3 billion to support elective recovery and tackle long waiting times, which could deliver nine million more checks and procedures to help support patients with conditions like arthritis. In the Spring Budget 2023, the Government also announced £400 million of funding for scaling up MSK Physical Activity Hubs and embedding employment advice within MSK pathways.
General rheumatology services, which support people with a range of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, are locally commissioned by integrated care boards, which are best placed to make decisions according to local need.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the Major Conditions Strategy; and whether there will be additional funding for that strategy.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We expect to publish the Major Conditions Strategy in spring of this year. The Spring Budget 2024 announced that the Government is protecting NHS England’s day-to-day funding in real terms, by providing an extra £2.45 billion in 2024/25. On productivity, the Government is investing £3.4 billion of capital funding to significantly reduce the 13 million hours of clinical staff time lost to poor IT every year, as well as revolutionising treatment for a range of illnesses such as cancer and strokes.
The Government has not committed any further additional funding specific to the Major Conditions Strategy. However, as part of the strategy, we will be identifying innovative actions to help alleviate pressure on the National Health Service and support improvement within the current settlement.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answers of 6 March 2024 to Question 16495 and of 11 March 2024 to Question 17444 on Employment: Disability, what guidance his Department issues to employers on home assessments to ensure the suitability of equipment for disabled people taking on home-based employment.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
An employer has the same health and safety responsibilities for people working from home, including those with disabilities, as for any other workers. Employers must protect their workers from health and safety risks from working on a computer or laptop (display screen equipment or DSE) at home and should check to see if the Display Screen Equipment Regulations apply. HSE guidance provides more information: Managing home workers' health and safety - Overview – HSE
Separately, the Chance to Work Guarantee will remove reassessments for the majority of Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance claimants (ESA) with no work-related requirements. The purpose of the Guarantee is to encourage claimants who have been assessed without work-related requirements to try work without the fear of reassessment, within existing permitted work rules in ESA and work allowance rules in UC.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether the Government plans to resume funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the context of the interim investigation by the UN into allegations against UNRWA staff and the resumption of funding by other nations.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
As we have set out, we are pressing the UN Office of Internal Oversight and Catherine Colonna, who is leading the independent Review Group appointed by the UN Secretary-General, to produce a rapid interim report. We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again. We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza.
Any future funding decisions will be taken after UNRWA's review has concluded.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is his policy to mandate (a) health and safety checks, (b) the provision of adapted (i) computer chairs, (ii) desks, (iii) screens and (iv) keyboards for disabled employees who are working from home whilst taking part in the Work Guarantee scheme.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 March to PQ16495.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is his policy to mandate (a) health and safety checks, (b) the provision of adapted (i) computer chairs, (ii) desks, (iii) screens and (iv) keyboards for disabled employees taking part in the Work Guarantee scheme.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Chance to Work Guarantee will remove reassessments for the vast majority of existing claimants with no work-related requirements. The purpose of the Guarantee is to encourage claimants who do not currently have any work-related requirements to consider, on a voluntary basis, trying work under ESA permitted work and the UC work allowance rules without the fear of reassessment and losing their benefit entitlement.
Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled workers. The aim of this duty under equality law is to ensure that, as far as is reasonable, disabled workers have the same access to everything involved in doing and keeping a job as non-disabled workers.