Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
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 implications for her policies of the independent report by Carlo Breen into the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust’s historic management of concerns in relation to a Consultant Spinal Surgeon, published on 7 March 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust commissioned the Spinal Patient Safety Look Back review in 2021. A report detailing the findings was published in July 2023. A second report was commissioned by the trust to review the historic management of concerns raised in relation to a particular surgeon. The findings of this report were published on 7 March 2024, and relate to issues that include bullying, speaking up, the duty of candour, governance, and the quality of disciplinary investigations at the trust.
The Government is already taking action in relation to policies relevant to the report’s findings. This includes strengthening leadership, the statutory duty of candour, and speaking up to promote an open and transparent learning culture in the National Health Service. We also expect NHS organisations to have robust policies in place to tackle bullying and harassment.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the answer of 15 April 2024 to Question 20677 on UNRWA: Finance, what evidence his Department has received from Israel confirming allegations made against UNRWA; and whether he has shared that evidence with (a) UNRWA and (b) governments that have reinstated funding to UNRWA.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General
We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.
We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what (a) criteria he is using and (b) conditions he has set for UNRWA to determine the resumption of funding to that organisation; and what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the interim reports of the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
We are aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General
We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.
We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion - not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza. We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the independent investigations.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment his Department has made of the human rights situation in Lhasa.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are concerned about human rights violations in Lhasa and Tibet more widely, including restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and on freedom of assembly and association, reports of forced labour, and reports that boarding schools are being used to assimilate Tibetan children into Han culture.
The UK Government consistently raises human rights issues with the Chinese authorities - the Foreign Secretary did so in February in a meeting with China's Foreign Minister. We also regularly raise Tibet in multilateral fora, for example, in January at China's Universal Periodic Review, and on 20 March as part of our Item 4 statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to expand public awareness campaigns for prostate cancer, following the prediction by the Lancet Commission of a surge in cases.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United Kingdom, and currently has no screening programme. The recently announced TRANSFORM trial aims to find the best way to screen for prostate cancer. This study is led by Prostate Cancer UK and supported by £42 million of Government funding.
In March 2024, NHS England implemented the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), setting a target of a maximum 28 day wait from urgent suspected general practice or screening referral to patients being told they have cancer, or that cancer is ruled out. To achieve this target, NHS England is streamlining cancer pathways by introducing best-practice timed pathways for prostate cancer, so that those suspected of having prostate cancer receive a multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scan first, which ensures only those men most at risk of having cancer undergo an invasive biopsy. As well as diagnosing patients faster, NHS England is working to diagnose patients at an earlier stage, through the ambitions set out in the NHS Long-Term Plan, to diagnose 75% of cancers at stages one and two by 2028.
NHS England takes steps to raise awareness of prostate cancer, where there are opportunities to do so. For example, NHS England partners with Cancer Alliances, charities, and local representatives to reach people through projects in the heart of their communities. Cancer Alliances have also been undertaking action to alert at-risk groups about prostate cancer. This is determined at a local level, and so will vary depending on local needs and priorities.
The Government has made significant strides in enabling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to support the diagnosis of many types of cancer, including prostate. The AI in Health and Care Award was established, aiming to accelerate the testing and development of AI technologies that align with the NHS Long Term Plan. The award represents a substantial investment in the future of healthcare technology, with £113 million already allocated to support 86 AI technologies. Three of these projects specifically relate to prostate cancer, one of which is the Paige prostate cancer detection tool, developed by the University of Oxford. This AI-based diagnostic software aids in the interpretation of pathology sample images, facilitating more efficient detection, grading, and quantification of cancer in prostate biopsies. The Chancellor’s recent budget announcement on 6 March 2024 includes a £3.4 billion investment to reform how the National Health Service works, including on the use of technologies such as AI.
Finally, although no specific assessment of the Lancet Commission published 4 April 2024 has been made, the Department will work with NHS England to review the details.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to recent research conducted by the Lancet Commission, what steps they plan to take to address the projected surge in prostate cancer cases.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United Kingdom, and currently has no screening programme. The recently announced TRANSFORM trial aims to find the best way to screen for prostate cancer. This study is led by Prostate Cancer UK and supported by £42 million of Government funding.
In March 2024, NHS England implemented the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), setting a target of a maximum 28 day wait from urgent suspected general practice or screening referral to patients being told they have cancer, or that cancer is ruled out. To achieve this target, NHS England is streamlining cancer pathways by introducing best-practice timed pathways for prostate cancer, so that those suspected of having prostate cancer receive a multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scan first, which ensures only those men most at risk of having cancer undergo an invasive biopsy. As well as diagnosing patients faster, NHS England is working to diagnose patients at an earlier stage, through the ambitions set out in the NHS Long-Term Plan, to diagnose 75% of cancers at stages one and two by 2028.
NHS England takes steps to raise awareness of prostate cancer, where there are opportunities to do so. For example, NHS England partners with Cancer Alliances, charities, and local representatives to reach people through projects in the heart of their communities. Cancer Alliances have also been undertaking action to alert at-risk groups about prostate cancer. This is determined at a local level, and so will vary depending on local needs and priorities.
The Government has made significant strides in enabling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to support the diagnosis of many types of cancer, including prostate. The AI in Health and Care Award was established, aiming to accelerate the testing and development of AI technologies that align with the NHS Long Term Plan. The award represents a substantial investment in the future of healthcare technology, with £113 million already allocated to support 86 AI technologies. Three of these projects specifically relate to prostate cancer, one of which is the Paige prostate cancer detection tool, developed by the University of Oxford. This AI-based diagnostic software aids in the interpretation of pathology sample images, facilitating more efficient detection, grading, and quantification of cancer in prostate biopsies. The Chancellor’s recent budget announcement on 6 March 2024 includes a £3.4 billion investment to reform how the National Health Service works, including on the use of technologies such as AI.
Finally, although no specific assessment of the Lancet Commission published 4 April 2024 has been made, the Department will work with NHS England to review the details.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what plans they have to use artificial intelligence systems to support the diagnosis of prostate cancer, as recommended by the Lancet Commission in research published on 4 April.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United Kingdom, and currently has no screening programme. The recently announced TRANSFORM trial aims to find the best way to screen for prostate cancer. This study is led by Prostate Cancer UK and supported by £42 million of Government funding.
In March 2024, NHS England implemented the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), setting a target of a maximum 28 day wait from urgent suspected general practice or screening referral to patients being told they have cancer, or that cancer is ruled out. To achieve this target, NHS England is streamlining cancer pathways by introducing best-practice timed pathways for prostate cancer, so that those suspected of having prostate cancer receive a multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scan first, which ensures only those men most at risk of having cancer undergo an invasive biopsy. As well as diagnosing patients faster, NHS England is working to diagnose patients at an earlier stage, through the ambitions set out in the NHS Long-Term Plan, to diagnose 75% of cancers at stages one and two by 2028.
NHS England takes steps to raise awareness of prostate cancer, where there are opportunities to do so. For example, NHS England partners with Cancer Alliances, charities, and local representatives to reach people through projects in the heart of their communities. Cancer Alliances have also been undertaking action to alert at-risk groups about prostate cancer. This is determined at a local level, and so will vary depending on local needs and priorities.
The Government has made significant strides in enabling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to support the diagnosis of many types of cancer, including prostate. The AI in Health and Care Award was established, aiming to accelerate the testing and development of AI technologies that align with the NHS Long Term Plan. The award represents a substantial investment in the future of healthcare technology, with £113 million already allocated to support 86 AI technologies. Three of these projects specifically relate to prostate cancer, one of which is the Paige prostate cancer detection tool, developed by the University of Oxford. This AI-based diagnostic software aids in the interpretation of pathology sample images, facilitating more efficient detection, grading, and quantification of cancer in prostate biopsies. The Chancellor’s recent budget announcement on 6 March 2024 includes a £3.4 billion investment to reform how the National Health Service works, including on the use of technologies such as AI.
Finally, although no specific assessment of the Lancet Commission published 4 April 2024 has been made, the Department will work with NHS England to review the details.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Lancet Commission on prostate cancer, published 4 April 2024.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United Kingdom, and currently has no screening programme. The recently announced TRANSFORM trial aims to find the best way to screen for prostate cancer. This study is led by Prostate Cancer UK and supported by £42 million of Government funding.
In March 2024, NHS England implemented the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), setting a target of a maximum 28 day wait from urgent suspected general practice or screening referral to patients being told they have cancer, or that cancer is ruled out. To achieve this target, NHS England is streamlining cancer pathways by introducing best-practice timed pathways for prostate cancer, so that those suspected of having prostate cancer receive a multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scan first, which ensures only those men most at risk of having cancer undergo an invasive biopsy. As well as diagnosing patients faster, NHS England is working to diagnose patients at an earlier stage, through the ambitions set out in the NHS Long-Term Plan, to diagnose 75% of cancers at stages one and two by 2028.
NHS England takes steps to raise awareness of prostate cancer, where there are opportunities to do so. For example, NHS England partners with Cancer Alliances, charities, and local representatives to reach people through projects in the heart of their communities. Cancer Alliances have also been undertaking action to alert at-risk groups about prostate cancer. This is determined at a local level, and so will vary depending on local needs and priorities.
The Government has made significant strides in enabling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to support the diagnosis of many types of cancer, including prostate. The AI in Health and Care Award was established, aiming to accelerate the testing and development of AI technologies that align with the NHS Long Term Plan. The award represents a substantial investment in the future of healthcare technology, with £113 million already allocated to support 86 AI technologies. Three of these projects specifically relate to prostate cancer, one of which is the Paige prostate cancer detection tool, developed by the University of Oxford. This AI-based diagnostic software aids in the interpretation of pathology sample images, facilitating more efficient detection, grading, and quantification of cancer in prostate biopsies. The Chancellor’s recent budget announcement on 6 March 2024 includes a £3.4 billion investment to reform how the National Health Service works, including on the use of technologies such as AI.
Finally, although no specific assessment of the Lancet Commission published 4 April 2024 has been made, the Department will work with NHS England to review the details.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress he has made in negotiations of a new international, legally binding plastics treaty.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14 set an ambitious timetable for the agreement of a new international, legally binding plastics treaty by end of 2024. The fourth round of negotiations (INC-4) will take place in Ottawa from 23 – 29 April which will continue discussions on the draft treaty text.
The UK is a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, a group of over 60 countries calling for an ambitious and effective treaty. The UK has been a vocal proponent of a strong and comprehensive agreement that covers the whole lifecycle of plastics, including restraining and reducing the production and consumption of plastic to sustainable levels, promoting a circular economy for plastic, managing plastic waste in an environmentally sound and safe manner, and preventing and reducing releases of plastics into the environment.
The Government is committed to securing an agreement on the text by the end of the year and is working closely with other Parties and stakeholders to facilitate progress at INC-4. In particular, the UK co-led with Brazil an informal, technical work programme to support continued dialogues on how to identify chemicals and polymers of concern, and problematic plastic products within the treaty.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of mandating regular welfare checks for home educated children.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The government supports the right of parents to educate their children at home. The department knows that many who do so are very committed and educate their children well, sometimes in difficult circumstances.
However, this government is committed to ensuring local authorities ensure all of these children are in receipt of suitable education.
The government is committed to legislating for statutory registers. Thanks to my honourable friend, the member for Meon Valley, for her work on her Children Not in School (Registers, Support and Orders) Bill, which the department is supporting as it progresses through Parliament.
The bill will introduce statutory, local authority-maintained registers of children not in school and help local authorities undertake their existing duties to ensure all children receive a suitable education and are safe, regardless of where they are educated.
It is important to note that elective home education in itself is not considered an inherent safeguarding risk. Most parents who take up the weighty responsibility of home education do a great job, and many children benefit from being educated at home. It is the government’s view that, when used correctly and in line with guidance, local authorities have sufficient existing powers to investigate and take action in cases where there is concern for the welfare of any child, including those who are educated at home. The department therefore does not have any plans to introduce regular mandatory welfare checks for these children.