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1330652

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2021
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	Oral Cancer
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to take steps to help improve patients’ understanding of the merits of regular dental check-ups in helping to ensure the early diagnosis of oral cancer.
	tabling member constituency	Bootle
	tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
	uin	12162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2021 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">No assessment has been made. Whilst dentists play a valuable role in detecting potential oral cancers through dental check-ups, patients with concerns should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner. </ins></p><p><del class="ministerial">No assessment has been made. Whilst dentists can play an ad hoc role in detecting potential oral cancers as a by-product of dental check-ups, oral cancer is primarily detected through the medical system. The Department currently has no plans to promote dentist appointments for the specific purpose of oral cancer diagnosis. Patients with concerns should seek advice from their general practitioner and not wait for their next dental appointment.</del></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 18/06/2021 09:55:05 question first ministerially corrected 16/07/2021 13:09:36 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 7367 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1399815

	registered interest
	date	05/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Chemicals: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will implement the recommendation of the Environmental Audit Committee in its 2019 report, Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life, and align with the European Chemical Agency’s Substances of Very High Concern Candidate List.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	98425
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2022 answer text <p>Last year the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation was brought into UK law, retaining the fundamental approach and key principles of EU REACH and ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment.</p><p>Within UK REACH, the Candidate List is a list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) that can be prioritised for inclusion on the Authorisation List. Once a substance is added to the Authorisation List, it may not be used after the specified ‘sunset date’ unless the Secretary of State has granted a business-specific authorisation for that use.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">The substances on the EU REACH candidate list were automatically carried forward to UK REACH. In future, substances will be added to the list on the basis of the best UK scientific advice, taking into account our own risk assessments.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Defra, the Welsh and Scottish governments have agreed an interim approach to adding new SVHCs to the list (published on gov.uk: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fuk-reach-approach-to-including-substances-of-very-high-concern-on-the-candidate-list&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C63108aaae77d4bb2502f08d9d5e180a1%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637775986765134596%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=uKuhUjq649TSN7DrWzbJG%2FXDvVzhIPPgk1GufZgWSjY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-reach-approach-to-including-substances-of-very-high-concern-on-the-candidate-list</a>). This is based on expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA), as well as feedback from a range of stakeholders.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We believe that focusing the Candidate List on identifying substances that are genuine candidates for authorisation – the statutory purpose of the list – will more effectively enable substitution away from the most hazardous substances. The regulatory pressure from inclusion on the Candidate List can be diluted if there is little realistic chance of added substances being made subject to authorisation.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As part of our approach, HSE and EA will conduct analysis to identify the most effective regulatory action to manage the risks from a chemical. When substances are on the incorrect regulatory pathway it can lead to unintended consequences such as regrettable substitution, where a hazardous substance is replaced by a substance with similar hazards; this can then increase the time taken to effectively control the risks. Both the HSE and EA are well placed to act as a strong and effective regulator to operate UK REACH. Both organisations have substantial expertise having worked on some of the most complex dossiers under EU REACH.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">This approach makes no practical change to helpful consumer information.</ins></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 14/01/2022 17:23:15 question first ministerially corrected 18/01/2022 12:22:02 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 43495 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1400099

	registered interest
	date	05/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Chemicals: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the change in approach to including Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) on the UK REACH Candidate List on (a) consumer and environmental protection from SVHCs, (b) consumers’ right to know about SVHCs in products, (c) the number of substances added to the UK SVHC candidate list and authorisation list in comparison to the EU’s and (d) the capacity of HSE to conduct Regulatory Management Options Analysis on substances identified for prioritisation; and if he will publish any assessments made by his Department on the effect of those proposals.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	98519
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2022 answer text <p>Last year the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation was brought into UK law, retaining the fundamental approach and key principles of EU REACH and ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment.</p><p>Within UK REACH, the Candidate List is a list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) that can be prioritised for inclusion on the Authorisation List. Once a substance is added to the Authorisation List, it may not be used after the specified ‘sunset date’ unless the Secretary of State has granted a business-specific authorisation for that use.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">The substances on the EU REACH candidate list were automatically carried forward to UK REACH. In future, substances will be added to the list on the basis of the best UK scientific advice, taking into account our own risk assessments.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Defra, the Welsh and Scottish governments have agreed an interim approach to adding new SVHCs to the list (published on gov.uk: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fuk-reach-approach-to-including-substances-of-very-high-concern-on-the-candidate-list&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C63108aaae77d4bb2502f08d9d5e180a1%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637775986765134596%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=uKuhUjq649TSN7DrWzbJG%2FXDvVzhIPPgk1GufZgWSjY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-reach-approach-to-including-substances-of-very-high-concern-on-the-candidate-list(opens in a new tab)</a>). This is based on expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA), as well as feedback from a range of stakeholders.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We believe that focusing the Candidate List on identifying substances that are genuine candidates for authorisation – the statutory purpose of the list – will more effectively enable substitution away from the most hazardous substances. The regulatory pressure from inclusion on the Candidate List can be diluted if there is little realistic chance of added substances being made subject to authorisation.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As part of our approach, HSE and EA will conduct analysis to identify the most effective regulatory action to manage the risks from a chemical. When substances are on the incorrect regulatory pathway it can lead to unintended consequences such as regrettable substitution, where a hazardous substance is replaced by a substance with similar hazards; this can then increase the time taken to effectively control the risks. Both the HSE and EA are well placed to act as a strong and effective regulator to operate UK REACH. Both organisations have substantial expertise having worked on some of the most complex dossiers under EU REACH.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">This approach makes no practical change to helpful consumer information.</ins></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 14/01/2022 17:23:15 question first ministerially corrected 19/01/2022 11:02:52 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 43496 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1400100

	registered interest
	date	05/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Chemicals: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the evidence for the reasons given by his Department for introducing new principles for including Substances of Very High Concern on the UK REACH Candidate List, including the (a) the scale, nature and effect of the issue of a substance on an incorrect or more than one regulatory pathway, (b) whether that issue can be foreseen and mitigated against by monitoring how it is resolved at an EU level and (c) how the potential merits of this approach outweigh the potential costs.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	98520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2022 answer text <p>Last year the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation was brought into UK law, retaining the fundamental approach and key principles of EU REACH and ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment.</p><p>Within UK REACH, the Candidate List is a list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) that can be prioritised for inclusion on the Authorisation List. Once a substance is added to the Authorisation List, it may not be used after the specified ‘sunset date’ unless the Secretary of State has granted a business-specific authorisation for that use.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">The substances on the EU REACH candidate list were automatically carried forward to UK REACH. In future, substances will be added to the list on the basis of the best UK scientific advice, taking into account our own risk assessments.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Defra, the Welsh and Scottish governments have agreed an interim approach to adding new SVHCs to the list (published on gov.uk: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fuk-reach-approach-to-including-substances-of-very-high-concern-on-the-candidate-list&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C63108aaae77d4bb2502f08d9d5e180a1%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C637775986765134596%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=uKuhUjq649TSN7DrWzbJG%2FXDvVzhIPPgk1GufZgWSjY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-reach-approach-to-including-substances-of-very-high-concern-on-the-candidate-list(opens in a new tab)</a>). This is based on expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA), as well as feedback from a range of stakeholders.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We believe that focusing the Candidate List on identifying substances that are genuine candidates for authorisation – the statutory purpose of the list – will more effectively enable substitution away from the most hazardous substances. The regulatory pressure from inclusion on the Candidate List can be diluted if there is little realistic chance of added substances being made subject to authorisation.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As part of our approach, HSE and EA will conduct analysis to identify the most effective regulatory action to manage the risks from a chemical. When substances are on the incorrect regulatory pathway it can lead to unintended consequences such as regrettable substitution, where a hazardous substance is replaced by a substance with similar hazards; this can then increase the time taken to effectively control the risks. Both the HSE and EA are well placed to act as a strong and effective regulator to operate UK REACH. Both organisations have substantial expertise having worked on some of the most complex dossiers under EU REACH.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">This approach makes no practical change to helpful consumer information.</ins></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 14/01/2022 17:23:15 question first ministerially corrected 19/01/2022 11:03:02 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 43497 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1463519

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Disease Control
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department requires local councils to take before those bodies (a) close council land and (b) ban certain activities on council land on the basis of public health.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Ladywood
	tabling member printed	Shabana Mahmood
	uin	3546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2022 answer text <p>Defra’s approach to avian influenza disease control is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>. All avian influenza disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, and all decisions regarding these measures are based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-europe" target="_blank">risk assessments</a> containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone that has been in force across Great Britain since 3 November 202<ins class="ministerial">1</ins><del class="ministerial">2</del>, access to areas where poultry and other captive birds are kept must be restricted to only essential personnel. In addition, access to premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed is restricted. Access to infected premises would only be permitted following a veterinary risk assessment and under licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Outside of these restrictions, there is no legal requirement for local authorities to limit access to public areas or close rights of way, and the countryside remains open for business.</p><p> </p><p>However, where findings of avian influenza in wild birds have occurred in public areas, local authorities may take a precautionary approach to protect the health and welfare of birds and to limit the risk of infection being transferred on footwear etc to other bird keeping areas by restricting access to areas where wild birds frequently congregate. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Local authorities will work closely with public health protection teams to take appropriate precautions to protect human health where required. Any decisions taken to restrict access to areas to protect public health are made on the basis of risk assessments undertaken by the UKHSA supported by evidence of the local and national animal health situation.</p><p> </p><p>No premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed during the 2021-2022 outbreak have been located on local authority owned land. Defra does not collect data on the number of other areas where access has been restricted by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. Failure to report suspicion of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds is an offence. Avian influenza controls are enforced by local authorities, normally within the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service teams. Defra, the devolved administrations and APHA work closely and meet regularly with local authority representatives and the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers both at a national level and through the cross-agency local resilience forums to help ensure effective implementation of the avian influenza outbreak prevention and control measures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/05/2022 16:48:02 question first ministerially corrected 26/05/2022 09:51:54 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 3134 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3914 label Biography information for Shabana Mahmood

1463520

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what risk assessment process his Department requires local councils to follow before the closure of council land following an outbreak avian flu.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Ladywood
	tabling member printed	Shabana Mahmood
	uin	3547
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2022 answer text <p>Defra’s approach to avian influenza disease control is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>. All avian influenza disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, and all decisions regarding these measures are based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-europe" target="_blank">risk assessments</a> containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone that has been in force across Great Britain since 3 November 202<ins class="ministerial">1</ins><del class="ministerial">2</del>, access to areas where poultry and other captive birds are kept must be restricted to only essential personnel. In addition, access to premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed is restricted. Access to infected premises would only be permitted following a veterinary risk assessment and under licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Outside of these restrictions, there is no legal requirement for local authorities to limit access to public areas or close rights of way, and the countryside remains open for business.</p><p> </p><p>However, where findings of avian influenza in wild birds have occurred in public areas, local authorities may take a precautionary approach to protect the health and welfare of birds and to limit the risk of infection being transferred on footwear etc to other bird keeping areas by restricting access to areas where wild birds frequently congregate. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Local authorities will work closely with public health protection teams to take appropriate precautions to protect human health where required. Any decisions taken to restrict access to areas to protect public health are made on the basis of risk assessments undertaken by the UKHSA supported by evidence of the local and national animal health situation.</p><p> </p><p>No premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed during the 2021-2022 outbreak have been located on local authority owned land. Defra does not collect data on the number of other areas where access has been restricted by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. Failure to report suspicion of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds is an offence. Avian influenza controls are enforced by local authorities, normally within the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service teams. Defra, the devolved administrations and APHA work closely and meet regularly with local authority representatives and the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers both at a national level and through the cross-agency local resilience forums to help ensure effective implementation of the avian influenza outbreak prevention and control measures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/05/2022 16:48:02 question first ministerially corrected 26/05/2022 09:51:38 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 3135 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3914 label Biography information for Shabana Mahmood

1463521

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what processes his Department has in place to ensure that local councils regularly monitor and report outbreaks of avian flu.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Ladywood
	tabling member printed	Shabana Mahmood
	uin	3548
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2022 answer text <p>Defra’s approach to avian influenza disease control is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>. All avian influenza disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, and all decisions regarding these measures are based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-europe" target="_blank">risk assessments</a> containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone that has been in force across Great Britain since 3 November 202<ins class="ministerial">1</ins><del class="ministerial">2</del>, access to areas where poultry and other captive birds are kept must be restricted to only essential personnel. In addition, access to premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed is restricted. Access to infected premises would only be permitted following a veterinary risk assessment and under licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Outside of these restrictions, there is no legal requirement for local authorities to limit access to public areas or close rights of way, and the countryside remains open for business.</p><p> </p><p>However, where findings of avian influenza in wild birds have occurred in public areas, local authorities may take a precautionary approach to protect the health and welfare of birds and to limit the risk of infection being transferred on footwear etc to other bird keeping areas by restricting access to areas where wild birds frequently congregate. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Local authorities will work closely with public health protection teams to take appropriate precautions to protect human health where required. Any decisions taken to restrict access to areas to protect public health are made on the basis of risk assessments undertaken by the UKHSA supported by evidence of the local and national animal health situation.</p><p> </p><p>No premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed during the 2021-2022 outbreak have been located on local authority owned land. Defra does not collect data on the number of other areas where access has been restricted by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. Failure to report suspicion of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds is an offence. Avian influenza controls are enforced by local authorities, normally within the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service teams. Defra, the devolved administrations and APHA work closely and meet regularly with local authority representatives and the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers both at a national level and through the cross-agency local resilience forums to help ensure effective implementation of the avian influenza outbreak prevention and control measures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/05/2022 16:48:02 question first ministerially corrected 26/05/2022 09:51:26 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 3136 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3914 label Biography information for Shabana Mahmood

1463522

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether decisions on closing council-owned land following an outbreak of avian flu are the responsibility of local authorities and his Department.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Ladywood
	tabling member printed	Shabana Mahmood
	uin	3549
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2022 answer text <p>Defra’s approach to avian influenza disease control is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>. All avian influenza disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, and all decisions regarding these measures are based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-europe" target="_blank">risk assessments</a> containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone that has been in force across Great Britain since 3 November 202<ins class="ministerial">1</ins><del class="ministerial">2</del>, access to areas where poultry and other captive birds are kept must be restricted to only essential personnel. In addition, access to premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed is restricted. Access to infected premises would only be permitted following a veterinary risk assessment and under licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Outside of these restrictions, there is no legal requirement for local authorities to limit access to public areas or close rights of way, and the countryside remains open for business.</p><p> </p><p>However, where findings of avian influenza in wild birds have occurred in public areas, local authorities may take a precautionary approach to protect the health and welfare of birds and to limit the risk of infection being transferred on footwear etc to other bird keeping areas by restricting access to areas where wild birds frequently congregate. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Local authorities will work closely with public health protection teams to take appropriate precautions to protect human health where required. Any decisions taken to restrict access to areas to protect public health are made on the basis of risk assessments undertaken by the UKHSA supported by evidence of the local and national animal health situation.</p><p> </p><p>No premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed during the 2021-2022 outbreak have been located on local authority owned land. Defra does not collect data on the number of other areas where access has been restricted by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. Failure to report suspicion of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds is an offence. Avian influenza controls are enforced by local authorities, normally within the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service teams. Defra, the devolved administrations and APHA work closely and meet regularly with local authority representatives and the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers both at a national level and through the cross-agency local resilience forums to help ensure effective implementation of the avian influenza outbreak prevention and control measures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/05/2022 16:48:02 question first ministerially corrected 26/05/2022 09:51:11 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 3137 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3914 label Biography information for Shabana Mahmood

1463523

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Avian Influenza: Disease Control
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many local councils have decided to close or limit access to council owned land due to an outbreak of avian flu in the last (a) three, (b) six and (c) 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Ladywood
	tabling member printed	Shabana Mahmood
	uin	3550
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/05/2022 answer text <p>Defra’s approach to avian influenza disease control is set out in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy" target="_blank">Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain</a>. All avian influenza disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, and all decisions regarding these measures are based on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-europe" target="_blank">risk assessments</a> containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone that has been in force across Great Britain since 3 November 202<ins class="ministerial">1</ins><del class="ministerial">2</del>, access to areas where poultry and other captive birds are kept must be restricted to only essential personnel. In addition, access to premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed is restricted. Access to infected premises would only be permitted following a veterinary risk assessment and under licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Outside of these restrictions, there is no legal requirement for local authorities to limit access to public areas or close rights of way, and the countryside remains open for business.</p><p> </p><p>However, where findings of avian influenza in wild birds have occurred in public areas, local authorities may take a precautionary approach to protect the health and welfare of birds and to limit the risk of infection being transferred on footwear etc to other bird keeping areas by restricting access to areas where wild birds frequently congregate. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. Local authorities will work closely with public health protection teams to take appropriate precautions to protect human health where required. Any decisions taken to restrict access to areas to protect public health are made on the basis of risk assessments undertaken by the UKHSA supported by evidence of the local and national animal health situation.</p><p> </p><p>No premises where notifiable avian influenza has been confirmed during the 2021-2022 outbreak have been located on local authority owned land. Defra does not collect data on the number of other areas where access has been restricted by local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Avian influenza is a notifiable animal disease. Failure to report suspicion of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds is an offence. Avian influenza controls are enforced by local authorities, normally within the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service teams. Defra, the devolved administrations and APHA work closely and meet regularly with local authority representatives and the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers both at a national level and through the cross-agency local resilience forums to help ensure effective implementation of the avian influenza outbreak prevention and control measures.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 25/05/2022 16:48:02 question first ministerially corrected 26/05/2022 09:50:54 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill previous answer version 3138 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	3914 label Biography information for Shabana Mahmood

1171143

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2020
	answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
	answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
	hansard heading	General Practitioners: Romford
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new GPs in Romford constituency have started work in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	3693
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2020 answer text <p>The data is not available in the format requested. NHS Digital publishes data on the overall growth in the general practice workforce. However, it is not possible to use this publication to identify doctors or other general practice staff that are new. Therefore the total number of full-time-equivalent doctors in general practice has been provided for each of the last five years in the attached table. Romford constituency does not align to a clinical commissioning group (CCG).</p><p>Data covering the number of doctors working in Havering CCG, which included the town of Romford, in each year since 2015 has been provided in the attached table. General practitioner (GP) locums are excluded as improvements have been made to GP locum recording methodology and figures are not comparable across the time series. Data is not included prior to 2015 as improvements were made to the methodology for recording all staff working in general practice in September 2015 and data prior to this is not comparable.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 23/01/2020 14:50:04 question first ministerially corrected 24/01/2020 14:36:52 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill attachment 1 file name PQ 3693 Table Final .docx title Full time doctors in general practice 2015-2019 previous answer version 2506 answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell