Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what current guidance they have issued about the maximum recommended dietary intake of (1) saturated, and (2) unsaturated, fat per day; and on the basis of what scientific evidence they made such a recommendation.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government encourages everyone to have a healthy balanced diet in line with the United Kingdom’s healthy eating model, The Eatwell Guide, which shows that foods high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar should be eaten less often, or in small amounts. The Government’s dietary guidelines are based on recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and its predecessor, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Nutrition Policy (COMA), and based on comprehensive assessments of the evidence.
In its 1994 report, Nutritional aspects of cardiovascular disease, the COMA recommended a reduction in the average contribution of total fat to dietary energy in the population to approximately 35%, and that trans fats should provide no more than approximately 2% of dietary energy. In relation to unsaturated fatty acids, the COMA concluded that: monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) had no specific recommendation; for n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), there should be no further increase in average intakes, and the proportion of the population consuming in excess of about 10% energy should not increase; linolenic acid provided at least 1% of total energy; and alpha linolenic acid provided at least 0.2% total energy. The report also included recommendations on saturated fats, which were updated by the SACN in 2019.
A joint SACN and Committee on Toxicity report, Advice on fish consumption: benefits and risks published in 2004, endorsed the recommendation that the population, including pregnant women, should eat at least two portions of fish per week, one of which should be oily. Two portions of fish per week, one white and one oily, contains approximately 0.45 grams per day of long chain n-3 PUFA. This recommendation represented an increase in the population’s average consumption of long chain n-3 PUFA, from approximately 0.2 grams to approximately 0.45 grams per day.
The SACN’s 2019 report on saturated fats and health recommended: the dietary reference value for saturated fats remains unchanged, and the population’s average contribution of saturated fatty acids to total dietary energy be reduced to no more than approximately 10%, which also applies to adults and children aged five years and older; and that saturated fats are substituted with unsaturated fats, as it was noted that more evidence is available supporting substitution with PUFA than substitution with MUFA.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the risk of infectious zoonotic diseases (a) mutating in and (b) spreading from fur farms to other mammals; and what steps he is taking to mitigate that risk.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare. Fur farming has been banned in England and Wales since 2000 (2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland). Fur farming is legal in some EU countries. Where outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza virus have occurred in fur farms in Europe in recent years, the governments in those countries took action to cull the affected farms to mitigate the risk of spread.
Nevertheless, together with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) we are keeping a close eye on the findings of zoonotic pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza in mink, foxes and other animals farmed for fur and the possible risk to human and animal health. We are vigilant to changes in risk and continue to use our established systems which include international disease monitoring programmes in the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and UKHSA to monitor the situation the outcomes of which are reviewed through our Veterinary Risk Group (VRG) and the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group. The HAIRS group have published a risk assessment on the transmission from animals to humans of influenza of avian origin and on the risk SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK captive or wild Mustelidae populations presents to the UK human population. There is no direct exposure to infected fur farms for kept or wild mammals in the UK and there is no evidence to suggest an increased risk to wildlife.
International collaboration and knowledge exchange on avian influenza and other zoonotic pathogens is facilitated through discussions between the UK Chief Veterinary Officer and representatives from our national and international reference laboratories, and their counterparts in the EU and globally through the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the QUADs alliance and allied projects. Including through the joint WOAH-FOA Scientific Network on animal influenza OFFLU.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data sets will flow into the Federated Data Platform; and what her planned timetable is for each of those data sets to be (a) visible and (b) in use on the Federated Data Platform by participating hospital trusts.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Federated Data Platform will deliver measurable improvements for patients. It will allow people to be discharged quicker, and for waiting lists to be shortened, through making better use of data.
It will securely bring together information already available to trusts, in hospital health records, waiting lists, and theatre and staff rosters, to better manage patient care. Each NHS organisation will be the data controller for their instance of the platform. Data will always remain under the full control and protection of the NHS and is only visible to approved users.
The NHS Federated Data Platform will provide trusts and integrated care boards, on behalf of local integrated care systems, with a set of core capabilities and nationally developed products, to support five key National Health Service priorities: elective recovery; care-co-ordination; vaccination and immunisation; population health management; and supply chain management.
A suite of products will sit under each of the use cases. A product is a software solution to address a particular NHS need, for example a patient discharge product which brings together data to help support discharge teams in hospitals in getting patients the right care in the right place. As each product is developed or transitioned to the NHS Federated Data Platform, a privacy notice will be published, setting out the data that will be utilised within the product. These are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/privacy-notice/how-we-use-your-information/nhs-federated-data-platform-privacy-notice/fdp-products-and-product-privacy-notices/
The NHS Federated Data Platform is being implemented in phases, with the first phase, from March to July 2024, being a transition of existing National Data Platform products to the national instance of the NHS Federated Data Platform, and the transition of 44 pilot sites to local instances. The second phase, from May 2024 to March 2027 and following the successful transition phase, is the rollout of instances of the platform to new trusts and integrated care boards. Once trusts and boards have their local instance of the platform, they can choose to use any of the nationally commissioned products, and develop new or additional products locally, to address local issues. This is when the data will become visible to approved users.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) clear and (b) transparent labelling of genetically modified foods.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Genetically modified organism (GMO) labelling rules stipulate that foods sold in Great Britain that contain genetically modified ingredients must be labelled. This labelling gives consumers the choice on whether to consume such foods containing, or consisting of, GMO ingredients, and the choice to avoid such foods, should they wish to do so. In the case of food sold loose, or where food has been cooked in genetically modified products such as cooking oil, this must appear on a notice, menu, ticket, or label which can be easily read by customers.
Information about any characteristic or property which renders a food consisting of or containing genetic modifications different from its conventional counterpart, such as its composition, nutritional value, the intended use of the food or feed, or any health implications for certain sections of the population, must also be included.
The Government maintains a list of GMOs authorised for use in food and feed. It is compulsory that the product adheres to mandatory traceability and labelling requirements, and that the product developer provides monitoring reports to the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland on an annual basis.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure traceability in the food chain for foods that contain genetically modified ingredients.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Genetically modified organism (GMO) labelling rules stipulate that foods sold in Great Britain that contain genetically modified ingredients must be labelled. This labelling gives consumers the choice on whether to consume such foods containing, or consisting of, GMO ingredients, and the choice to avoid such foods, should they wish to do so. In the case of food sold loose, or where food has been cooked in genetically modified products such as cooking oil, this must appear on a notice, menu, ticket, or label which can be easily read by customers.
Information about any characteristic or property which renders a food consisting of or containing genetic modifications different from its conventional counterpart, such as its composition, nutritional value, the intended use of the food or feed, or any health implications for certain sections of the population, must also be included.
The Government maintains a list of GMOs authorised for use in food and feed. It is compulsory that the product adheres to mandatory traceability and labelling requirements, and that the product developer provides monitoring reports to the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland on an annual basis.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the British Heart Foundation and (b) other relevant organisations on the survival rate of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of hospital.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Department officials met with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and NHS England in November 2023 to discuss access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and AED cabinets. Officials also attended a workshop co-hosted by the BHF and NHS England in January 2024, on the same issue.
To improve survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases, the Government launched a new £1 million one-off fund that will expand community access to AEDs. The grant was made available from September 2023. We estimated 1,000 new defibrillators would be provided by the fund, with the potential for this to double as most applicants would be asked to match the funding they receive partially or fully. To date, the grant has successfully delivered 2,000 AEDs.
Applications for AEDs are selected in line with criteria to provide AEDs where there is greatest need. The criteria include remote communities with extended ambulance response times, places with high footfall and high population densities, hotspots for cardiac arrest including sporting venues and venues with vulnerable people, and deprived areas.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to expand (a) access to and (b) provision of public automatic external defibrillators.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Department officials met with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and NHS England in November 2023 to discuss access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and AED cabinets. Officials also attended a workshop co-hosted by the BHF and NHS England in January 2024, on the same issue.
To improve survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases, the Government launched a new £1 million one-off fund that will expand community access to AEDs. The grant was made available from September 2023. We estimated 1,000 new defibrillators would be provided by the fund, with the potential for this to double as most applicants would be asked to match the funding they receive partially or fully. To date, the grant has successfully delivered 2,000 AEDs.
Applications for AEDs are selected in line with criteria to provide AEDs where there is greatest need. The criteria include remote communities with extended ambulance response times, places with high footfall and high population densities, hotspots for cardiac arrest including sporting venues and venues with vulnerable people, and deprived areas.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Annex A of the NHS publication entitled Specialised Commissioning – update on specialised services for delegation, published on 28 March 2024, whether she plans for the 32 specialised services retained by NHS England from April 2025 to be (a) delegated or (b) retained in perpetuity.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The nine joint committee arrangements arose from a robust process, which included a readiness assessment, the Pre-Delegation Assessment Framework, made between integrated care boards (ICBs) and NHS England regional teams, followed by a National Moderation Panel and final decision taken by the NHS England Board. The NHS England Board papers for February 2023, December 2023, and March 2024 are available respectively at the following links:
The process concluded that a transitional year of joint commissioning would offer the most secure and stable transition towards delegation. NHS England is working alongside ICBs to ensure that delegation agreements are in place, including ensuring appropriate collaborative arrangements are developed to support ICB commissioning of specialised services. These arrangements will be monitored by NHS England through its assurance processes for specialised services.
On 28 March 2024, the NHS England Board approved the recommendation that the 32 specialised services listed in Annex A of Item 7 of Specialised Commissioning: update on specialised services for delegation, would be retained by NHS England.
Regardless of delegation status, NHS England will remain the accountable commissioner for the entire portfolio of specialised services, and as part of this role, will monitor the effectiveness of delegation and the lists of services. It should be noted that NHS England does have the ability to bring a service back under national commissioning control, under the safeguards put in place to support delegation.
All specialised services, whether retained or delegated, must comply with nationally developed standards, including service specifications and clinical commissioning polices. ICBs will be able to use specialised services funding to transform and develop services and pathways across their core and specialised responsibilities, to improve quality of care and equity of access and value, whilst also complying with national standards.
Whilst delegation is not an end in itself, moving to ICB-led commissioning supports a focus on population health management across whole pathways of care, and gives ICBs the powers they need to improve the quality of services, tackle health inequalities, and ensure best value. NHS England set out in detail the benefits of greater ICB involvement in the commissioning of appropriate specialised services in the Roadmap for Integrating Specialised Services within Integrated Care Systems, and subsequent board papers. This roadmap is available at the following link:
These plans have been developed in close collaboration with NHS England’s regional teams, ICBs, specialised service providers, clinicians, and patients, and represent the outcome of a thorough assessment of ICB system readiness, and a comprehensive analysis of services to determine their suitability and readiness for more integrated commissioning. During 2024/25, specialised services commissioning teams will remain employed by NHS England. NHS England has a framework for commissioning support, and accesses a range of services from commissioning support units. For example, data and business intelligence, and programme and project management expertise and resources.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential imapct of delegating specialised services to Integrated Care Systems on continuity of care for patients.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The nine joint committee arrangements arose from a robust process, which included a readiness assessment, the Pre-Delegation Assessment Framework, made between integrated care boards (ICBs) and NHS England regional teams, followed by a National Moderation Panel and final decision taken by the NHS England Board. The NHS England Board papers for February 2023, December 2023, and March 2024 are available respectively at the following links:
The process concluded that a transitional year of joint commissioning would offer the most secure and stable transition towards delegation. NHS England is working alongside ICBs to ensure that delegation agreements are in place, including ensuring appropriate collaborative arrangements are developed to support ICB commissioning of specialised services. These arrangements will be monitored by NHS England through its assurance processes for specialised services.
On 28 March 2024, the NHS England Board approved the recommendation that the 32 specialised services listed in Annex A of Item 7 of Specialised Commissioning: update on specialised services for delegation, would be retained by NHS England.
Regardless of delegation status, NHS England will remain the accountable commissioner for the entire portfolio of specialised services, and as part of this role, will monitor the effectiveness of delegation and the lists of services. It should be noted that NHS England does have the ability to bring a service back under national commissioning control, under the safeguards put in place to support delegation.
All specialised services, whether retained or delegated, must comply with nationally developed standards, including service specifications and clinical commissioning polices. ICBs will be able to use specialised services funding to transform and develop services and pathways across their core and specialised responsibilities, to improve quality of care and equity of access and value, whilst also complying with national standards.
Whilst delegation is not an end in itself, moving to ICB-led commissioning supports a focus on population health management across whole pathways of care, and gives ICBs the powers they need to improve the quality of services, tackle health inequalities, and ensure best value. NHS England set out in detail the benefits of greater ICB involvement in the commissioning of appropriate specialised services in the Roadmap for Integrating Specialised Services within Integrated Care Systems, and subsequent board papers. This roadmap is available at the following link:
These plans have been developed in close collaboration with NHS England’s regional teams, ICBs, specialised service providers, clinicians, and patients, and represent the outcome of a thorough assessment of ICB system readiness, and a comprehensive analysis of services to determine their suitability and readiness for more integrated commissioning. During 2024/25, specialised services commissioning teams will remain employed by NHS England. NHS England has a framework for commissioning support, and accesses a range of services from commissioning support units. For example, data and business intelligence, and programme and project management expertise and resources.
Asked by: Karin Smyth (Labour - Bristol South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of joint commissioning on the 59 specialised services approved by the NHS England Board in February 2023.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The nine joint committee arrangements arose from a robust process, which included a readiness assessment, the Pre-Delegation Assessment Framework, made between integrated care boards (ICBs) and NHS England regional teams, followed by a National Moderation Panel and final decision taken by the NHS England Board. The NHS England Board papers for February 2023, December 2023, and March 2024 are available respectively at the following links:
The process concluded that a transitional year of joint commissioning would offer the most secure and stable transition towards delegation. NHS England is working alongside ICBs to ensure that delegation agreements are in place, including ensuring appropriate collaborative arrangements are developed to support ICB commissioning of specialised services. These arrangements will be monitored by NHS England through its assurance processes for specialised services.
On 28 March 2024, the NHS England Board approved the recommendation that the 32 specialised services listed in Annex A of Item 7 of Specialised Commissioning: update on specialised services for delegation, would be retained by NHS England.
Regardless of delegation status, NHS England will remain the accountable commissioner for the entire portfolio of specialised services, and as part of this role, will monitor the effectiveness of delegation and the lists of services. It should be noted that NHS England does have the ability to bring a service back under national commissioning control, under the safeguards put in place to support delegation.
All specialised services, whether retained or delegated, must comply with nationally developed standards, including service specifications and clinical commissioning polices. ICBs will be able to use specialised services funding to transform and develop services and pathways across their core and specialised responsibilities, to improve quality of care and equity of access and value, whilst also complying with national standards.
Whilst delegation is not an end in itself, moving to ICB-led commissioning supports a focus on population health management across whole pathways of care, and gives ICBs the powers they need to improve the quality of services, tackle health inequalities, and ensure best value. NHS England set out in detail the benefits of greater ICB involvement in the commissioning of appropriate specialised services in the Roadmap for Integrating Specialised Services within Integrated Care Systems, and subsequent board papers. This roadmap is available at the following link:
These plans have been developed in close collaboration with NHS England’s regional teams, ICBs, specialised service providers, clinicians, and patients, and represent the outcome of a thorough assessment of ICB system readiness, and a comprehensive analysis of services to determine their suitability and readiness for more integrated commissioning. During 2024/25, specialised services commissioning teams will remain employed by NHS England. NHS England has a framework for commissioning support, and accesses a range of services from commissioning support units. For example, data and business intelligence, and programme and project management expertise and resources.