Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the value for money of public spending on the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government recognises the significant economic potential of the Oxford to Cambridge region, but also that it is constrained by poor connectivity, limited laboratory space, and high housing costs. The Spring Budget set out the Government’s commitment to East West Rail, which will unlock locally-led growth. In line with the usual process, East West Rail Company will produce an Outline Business Case ahead of an application for planning consent and the Treasury will assess the value for money of the scheme at this point.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress he has made on considering options for a social tariff as part of wider retail energy market reforms; and whether he has plans for consultation on the options.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Autumn Statement set out a commitment to work with consumer groups and industry to consider the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024, including options such as social tariffs, as part of wider retail market reforms.
Officials are considering the options and proactively discussing these with stakeholders.
As set out in the Energy Security Plan, the Government intends to consult in Summer 2023 on options for a new approach to consumer protection in the energy markets from April 2024 onwards.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the level of awareness of motor neurone disease patients of their right to a carer's assessment; and if he will take steps to (a) identify and (b) help tackle barriers to securing a carer's assessment.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has no plans to make an assessment of the level of awareness of motor neurone disease patients of their right to a carers’ assessment. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to undertake a Carer’s Assessment for any unpaid carer who appears to have a need for support and to meet their eligible needs on request from the carer.
The Health and Care Act 2022 includes provisions for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to assess the performance of local authorities’ delivery of their adult social care duties as set out in part one of the Care Act 2014, including local authorities’ responsibilities to undertake an assessment of a carer's needs of support. CQC's duties will commence from April 2023.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what progress his Department has made on reviewing the responses to the call for evidence on local authority remote meetings, published on 25 March 2021; when he plans to publish the Government's response; and what factors have contributed to the Department being unable to do so to date.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I have nothing to add to the answer given to Question UIN 95817 on 2 December 2022.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for applicants to the Blue Badge scheme who have irreversible medical conditions; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of exempting such applicants from the requirement to undertake a renewal process for their Blue Badge.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Applications to the Blue Badge scheme are not dependent upon condition but are based on the need of the applicant to park closer to their destination. People with long term medical conditions could receive a badge if they meet the eligibility criteria. Local authorities are responsible for administering the scheme locally and all local authority administrators have the discretion to add a ‘not for reassessment’ marker to individual Blue Badge records, including for applicants with long term conditions.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
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 whether the needs of patients with fibromyalgia are being met by the NHS.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No assessment has been made. The majority of patients with fibromyalgia can be cared for in primary care settings. To support healthcare professionals and commissioners in meeting the needs of patients, there is National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance available on the diagnosis and management of chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia.
The Fibromyalgia Association UK has also worked with healthcare professionals to develop a guidance for health professionals.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to promote greater awareness of fibromyalgia among (a) the medical profession, (b) government departments and (c) employers.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no specific plans to promote greater awareness of fibromyalgia. There is National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance available on the diagnosis and management of chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. NICE promotes guidance via its website, newsletters and other media. NICE guidelines represent best practice and health professionals, including general practitioners, are expected to take them fully into account.
There are also a range of initiatives to support greater employer awareness of health conditions such as fibromyalgia, including the Information and Advice Service which provides better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting and managing health and disability in the workplace.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on proposals for a review of (a) treatment and (b) guidance on best practice for patients with fibromyalgia.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department has had no such discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
NICE published its guideline on primary and secondary chronic pain in over 16 years old in April 2021. The guideline makes recommendations on pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments of chronic primary pain, including fibromyalgia, which is classified as a type of chronic primary pain. The full recommendations are available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193/resources/chronic-pain-primary-and-secondary-in-over-16s-assessment-of-all-chronic-pain-and-management-of-chronic-primary-pain-pdf-66142080468421.
NICE has no plans to update the guidance at this time, however their surveillance programme ensures that its published guidelines are up to date by exploring if there is any new evidence to contradict, reinforce or clarify the recommendations it makes.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of new research published on the treatment of fibromyalgia in the last two years.
Answered by Will Quince
No specific assessment has been made.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations and guidance for the health and care system. NICE guidelines are developed by experts based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and through extensive engagement with stakeholders. NICE maintains surveillance of new evidence that may affect its published guidance and would consult on proposed changes with a wide range of stakeholders if significant new evidence was to emerge.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North East Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what information his Department holds on the average cost of parish council by-elections; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of information provided to parish councils about the cost of such by-elections.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The department does not hold this information. Parishes are their own sovereign entity and responsible to their local electors.