Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, what plans he has to (a) retain, (b) revoke or (c) replace the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 December 2022 to Question 105306.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, whether he plans has to (a) retain, (b) replace and (c) revoke the General Food Regulations 2004.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 December 2022 to Question 102910.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to (a) reform, (b) revoke or (c) retain the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
Answered by Will Quince
Reforms to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are progressing under the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021. The Act supports the United Kingdom’s ambitions for the Life Sciences sector through regulations to increase innovation and support the development of new medical technologies. This includes placing the Early Access to Medicines Scheme on a statutory basis, supporting the continued safe deployment of COVID-19 and flu vaccines, and consulting on proposals for a new regulatory framework to enable innovative medicines to be manufactured and delivered at the point of care.
Through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, the Government is currently reviewing which retained European Union law should be repealed, reformed or preserved. The Government continues to work with a range of stakeholders to ensure that any such reforms maintain current standards in patient safety and public health. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is participating in the review of all retained EU law within its responsibilities.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, what plans he has to (a) revoke, (b) replace or (c) retain Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, the Government is considering which retained European Union legislation should be repealed, reformed or preserved. Any such reforms will not alter the United Kingdom’s high standards. The Government will continue to work with a range of organisations and stakeholders to ensure that patient safety and public health are maintained.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, what plans he has to (a) revoke, (b) replace or (c) retain the Animal Feed (Composition, Marketing and Use) (England) Regulations 2015.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 December 2022 to Question 102910.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, what plans they have to (a) revoke, (b) replace or (c) retain the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 December 2022 to Question 102910.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, what plans the Government has to (a) replace, (b) revoke or (c) retain the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, the Government is currently reviewing which retained European Union law should be repealed, reformed or preserved. The Government continues to work with a range of stakeholders to ensure that any such reforms maintain current standards in public health.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, whether he has plans to (a) replace, (b) revoke and (c) retain the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, the Government is considering which retained European Union legislation should be repealed, reformed or preserved. Any such reforms will not alter the United Kingdom’s high standards. The Government will continue to work with a range of organisations and stakeholders to ensure that patient safety and public health are maintained.
The independent Food Standards Agency, working with Food Standards Scotland, is participating in the review of all retained EU law within its responsibilities. Consumer safety or the ability of business to trade during this review will not be compromised.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) fines have been issued and (b) individuals have been fined or required to repay the value of a prescription after the fact, due to an individual failing to pay for a prescription without a valid maternity exemption certificate in each of the last five years.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The following table shows the number of patients who declared they held a valid Maternity Exemption Certificate and who were issued with at least one penalty charge notice (PCN) and the number of PCNs issued in each of the last five years.
Number of patients declaring a valid maternity exemption certificate and were issued with at least one PCN | Number of PCNs issued against maternity exemption declarations | |
2018 | 73,918 | 92,208 |
2019 | 73,915 | 92,440 |
2020 | 12,614 | 13,359 |
2021 | 85 | 85 |
2022 | 20,257 | 22,344 |
Total | 180,789 | 220,436 |
Source: the NHS Business Services Authority
PCNs are sometimes issued to patients who were entitled to claim free prescriptions due to data mismatches. This may be for reasons such as the patient has moved and not updated their address with their general practitioner or changed their name and not updated the exemption certificate. The patient is sent an enquiry letter asking to confirm their entitlement and any data updates can be undertaken at this stage and the case closed if appropriate. If the patient does not respond to the enquiry letter within 28 days, they will automatically be sent a penalty charge notice.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many officials in her Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation, as (a) headcount and (b) Full Time Equivalent.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department has a central coordinating team working on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, which currently has two full time officials and support from an additional three officials alongside their other business activities. This is equates to approximately three full time equivalent officials. The central team is supported by advice from Departmental officials where there are Retained EU Law implications. These officials provide support as part of their normal business activities and do not have specific headcount or full time equivalent staff allocated to this work.