Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress she has made on implementing the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
I can assure the honourable Member that we remain firmly committed to the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid. This will help to prevent around 200 neural tube defects each year.
This policy is being delivered across the UK as part of the wider review of the Bread and Flour Regulations. In January, we published the consultation response, and we will bring forward legislation to implement the policy later this year.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
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 potential merits of introducing routine screening for newly-arrived asylum seekers for antimicrobial resistant organisms.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The Government is committed to tackling antimicrobial resistance and reducing the risk of drug-resistant infections for all people. In 2019, the Government published a 20-Year Vision to effectively contain, control and mitigate antimicrobial resistance by 2040, and the first in a series of five-year national action plans to support the Vision is available at the following link:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/antimicrobial-resistance-amr-information-and-resources
Information for healthcare professionals on meeting the health needs of migrants is available in the Migrant Health Guide, which is produced by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is available at the following link:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/migrant-health-guide
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provides guidance for healthcare professionals on managing infectious diseases in all migrants through the Migrant Health Guide. The guide provides detailed information on screening by infection type and is regularly reviewed. UKHSA also provides specific guidance on infectious diseases in the asylum seeker population, including information for testing for antimicrobial resistance in diphtheria cases is available at the following link:
www.gov.uk/guidance/infectious-diseases-in-asylum-seekers-actions-for-health-professionals
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential risk of (a) antimicrobial resistance and (b) drug resistant infections in immigration detention centres.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
No assessment has been made.
The Government is committed to tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reducing the risk of drug-resistant infections for all people. In 2019, the Government published a 20-Year Vision to effectively contain, control and mitigate AMR by 2040, and the first in a series of five-year national action plans to support the Vision.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
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 prevalence of antimicrobial resistant organisms in immigration detention centres.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
No specific assessment has been made.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what basis the Government makes the decision to add a country to the list of countries and territories with approved proof of covid-19 vaccination for travel to England; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Vaccine certification between countries and territories varies considerably, therefore we ensure that certificates or apps meet our published minimum requirements on content and that carriers are clear about the certification we can accept.
The vaccine certificate, either digital or paper, must be issued by a national or state-level public health authority and be in English, French or Spanish. As a minimum, it must include the holders’ forename and surname(s), date of birth, vaccine brand and manufacturer, date of vaccination for every dose and country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issue.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
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 (a) monitor the quality of (i) accommodation and (ii) food provided to people and families and (b) promote the welfare of children required to quarantine in hotels during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jo Churchill
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before prorogation.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on placing material related to the contaminated blood scandal at the National Archives; what plans are in place for ensuring appropriate access to the material for the public and for the Infected Blood Inquiry; and whether documents previously declared lost are included and identifiable.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Department is obliged by the Public Records Act 1967, as amended, to consider records for permanent preservation at the National Archives, including those related to blood policy. The schedule for transfer is set out in secondary legislation, the Freedom of Information (Definition of Historical Records) (Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2012.
The Infected Blood Inquiry has reviewed thousands of files from the Department and has always been free to request access to files they wish to review. We have been transparent in making available documents believed to have been lost but subsequently returned by third party solicitors, having already made these available on the Department’s website in 2006.