Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to tackle regulatory systems that slow down research.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Government is committed to delivering a regulatory system that is pro-innovation, easy to navigate and facilitates commercialisation of science and technology applications, as set out in the Science and Technology Framework.
Regulatory systems for life sciences are led by DHSC, and its arms-length-body the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency recently launched a new, streamlined process for clinical trial applicants. The Department works with DHSC wherever appropriate on regulatory matters; for example, delivering the Government Chief Scientific Adviser's life sciences review and supporting on the wider implementation of the O'Shaughnessy Review into commercial clinical trials.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that non-statutory guidance on abortion clinic safe access zones around abortion clinics issued by his Department supports the human rights of people with pro-life views.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government respects people’s fundamental rights provided under Article 9 (freedom of thought, religion and belief), Article 10 (freedom of expression) and Article 11 (freedom of association and assembly) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The enforcement of abortion safe access zones must be compliant with the ECHR.
The Government has recently consulted publicly on the guidance. We are currently analysing all responses to the consultation, which closed on 22 January, and we will publish the final guidance in due course.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's data release entitled Estimating the prevalence and costs of external wall system life-safety fire risk in mid-rise residential buildings in England, published on 17 May 2022, how many buildings estimated to require work to alleviate external wall system life-safety fire risks will be remediated through the Cladding Safety Scheme.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The end use of the Cladding Safety Scheme will depend upon individual decisions made by responsible entities on a building by building basis. Freeholders are responsible for building safety in their own buildings, including the use of the Cladding Safety Scheme, and there are strong safeguards and enforcements in place should they fail to do so in good time. Where buildings require cladding remediation and lack other avenues to support that outcome, we strongly encourage applications to the Cladding Safety Scheme, and are pro-actively working to ensure applications are made.
Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Markham on 27 June (HL8632, HL8633), what is their response to the claim by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry that international investors are "abandoning UK life sciences as excessive revenue clawback rates start to bite".
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) payment percentages have been at or below those projected when the scheme was agreed. Recent increases to payment percentages reflect the scheme working as intended to adjust for increased sales of branded medicines to the National Health Service, which is the result of the positive access and uptake environment within the NHS.
The VPAS agreement was described as a “pro-innovation deal” by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry who negotiated and signed the deal on behalf of the whole pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom.
There are several factors which influence company investment decisions in any country or region. Available evidence suggests that supply side factors, such as availability of expert scientific labour and favourable tax conditions, are of greatest significance in the decision on future investment. However, we understand that price regulation schemes such as VPAS may be a consideration in the decision to locate some investments, which is why we are committed to agreeing a successor voluntary scheme to VPAS that supports a strong UK life sciences sector.
Asked by: Jamie Wallis (Conservative - Bridgend)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress he has made on implementing the recommendations in Sir Patrick Vallance’s Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review: Digital Technologies report, published on 15 March 2023.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Pro-innovation Regulation of Technologies Review is working closely with industry to identify barriers to innovation and getting emerging technologies to market. The Review has now published reports on Green Industries, Life Sciences and Creative Industries, as well as Digital Technologies.
The government is moving quickly to implement the recommendations from the Digital Technologies report. For example, the government outlined four options for an AI Sandbox in the AI Regulation White Paper and will provide further detail in the forthcoming response to the White Paper consultation. The government is also working with the Intellectual Property Office and industry to develop a Code of Practice on copyright and AI, with the aim of publishing a draft before summer Parliamentary recess. On the review of the Computer Misuse Act, we have created a multistakeholder group including representatives from the cybersecurity industry and system owners’ to consider these issues, and reach a consensus on the best way forward.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support the life sciences sector in Scotland.
Answered by George Freeman
On 26 May we announced a raft of measures to support the life sciences sector across the UK. This includes a new Biomanufacturing Fund, open to companies across the UK, and measures to improve the underlying business environment such as through pro-innovation review of technologies (life sciences), which will give industry and investors the certainty they need to drive innovation, investment and growth. We will ensure the sector has the finance it needs to grow through our Life Sciences Investment Envoy, Dan Mahony, and the Long-term Investment For Technology and Science (LIFTS) initiative, bolstering investment in companies across the UK.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the proportion of journeys in the UK that have been disrupted by a lawful protest in the last 12 months.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Just Stop Oil have engaged in repeated protests across London, involving a total of 124 slow walks. These have caused immense frustration for those ordinary people trying to go about their daily lives. They have resulted in the use of over 12,500 police officer shifts, diverting police attention away from our local communities. In 2022, Just Stop Oil were responsible for over 75 days of turmoil, the police response to this cost the taxpayer over £14.5 million.
The dangerous tactics used by Just Stop Oil on the M25 resulted in significant backlogs, meaning tens of thousands of drivers were gridlocked for hours. National Highways have stated that these methods cause significant economic harm, disruption, and inconvenience to the general public.
The Public Order Act 2023 received royal assent on 2 May and introduces new measures which improve the police’s ability to manage highly disruptive protests and take a proactive approach to prevent such disruption happening in the first place. For example, the lock-on offence and the associated stop and search power will allow the police to pro-actively prevent the selfish minority of protesters causing serious disruption on our roads.
A statutory instrument has been presented to further define the term ‘serious disruption’ and will provide the police with greater clarity over when to intervene with public assemblies and processions to prevent serious disruption to the life of the community.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Sharpe of Epsom on 9 January 2023 (HL4491), what guidance local authorities are given on the European Convention on Human Rights when using Public Space Protection Orders to ensure that any restrictions on freedom of speech and religion are necessary and proportionate.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Section 72 of the Antisocial behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 states that when making decisions regarding a Public Spaces Protection Order, a local authority must have particular regard to the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly set out in articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Government issues statutory guidance on the use of antisocial behaviour powers provided under the Antisocial behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 - Anti-social behaviour powers (publishing.service.gov.uk).
The Local Government Association has also published guidance for councils on the use of Public Spaces Protection Orders, which makes reference to local authorities’ human rights obligations - Public spaces protection orders: guidance for councils (local.gov.uk).
In 2019, the Court of Appeal upheld the legality of the Public Spaces Protection Order outside the abortion clinic in Ealing. The Court concluded that on balance the provision of that specific designated area with its restrictions allows both the Pro-Life and Pro-Choice groups to exercise their Article 9 (freedom of thought, religion and belief), 10 and 11 rights in a way which protects the rights of others in the locality, particularly the Article 8 rights (respect for private and family life) of clinic service users.
Asked by: Jonathan Reynolds (Labour (Co-op) - Stalybridge and Hyde)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform independent report, dated 16 June 2021, which of the proposals contained in that report are Government policy as of September 2022.
Answered by Dean Russell
The Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform’s (TIGRR) report shows how, with ambition and vision, the UK can deliver on the opportunities of Brexit. The Benefits of Brexit paper outlines how the government is driving forward our commitments in response to TIGRR, including forging ahead to reform our data laws, setting out a 10 year plan to make Britain a global AI superpower, building on the successes of the Vaccine Taskforce to ensure we have the world’s most innovative life sciences sector, as well as reforms to the financial services and agriculture sectors. These reforms will create a new pro-growth, high standards regulatory framework that gives businesses the confidence to innovate, invest and create jobs.
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, introduced to Parliament on 22nd September, will help to accelerate delivery of the recommendations from TIGRR.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to improve primary care for patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure.
Answered by James Morris
The Quality and Outcomes Framework incentive programme for general practitioner practices in England contains indicators promoting high-quality care for patients with coronary heart disease or with a diagnosis of heart failure.
Primary Care Networks (PCNs are required as part of the services specification to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnosis and prevention. This includes supporting the earlier identification of heart failure through increasing awareness amongst PCN staff, the use of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide testing and increasing the use of CVD intelligence tools, including CVDPREVENT. The 2022/23 Impact and Investment Fund also incentivises PCNs to improve CVD prevention, such as treating patients with atrial fibrillation with Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants, in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines.
In addition, the National Health Service is investing in cardiac networks to support whole pathway improvements. These networks have been developed to improve the care pathway from prevention, diagnosis, treatment to end of life care.