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1662992

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	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	Phlebotomy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to retain NHS phlebotomists.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	200846
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2023 answer text <p>The NHS People Plan and the NHS People Promise set out a comprehensive range of actions to improve staff retention. They provide a strong focus on creating a more modern, compassionate and inclusive National Health Service culture by strengthening health and wellbeing, equality and diversity, culture and leadership and flexible working.</p><p>NHS priorities and operational planning guidance 2023/24 has asked systems to refresh their 2022/23 whole system workforce plans to improve staff retention through a systematic focus on all elements of the NHS People Promise. Staff wellbeing should be strategically aligned with elective recovery plans, including workforce demand and capacity planning. In addition, the NHS Retention Programme is continuously seeking to understand why staff leave, resulting in targeted interventions to support staff to stay while keeping them well.</p><p>The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan builds on the NHS People Plan and sets out how to improve culture and leadership to ensure that up to 130,000 fewer staff leave the NHS over the next 15 years. This includes implementing actions from the NHS People Plan that have been shown to be successful, implementing plans to improve flexible opportunities for prospective retirees and delivering the actions needed to modernise the NHS pension scheme.</p><p>These interventions apply across staff groups, including phlebotomists.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 19/10/2023 15:59:47 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1656702

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Gynaecology: Waiting Lists
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce gynaecology waiting lists in hospitals.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	196452
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2023 answer text <p>The ‘Delivery Plan for Tackling the COVID-19 Backlog of Elective Care’ outlines how the National Health Service will bring down waiting times across all elective services. The plan does not detail approaches for each specialty but commits to eradicate all waits of longer than a year for elective care by March 2025, except for in the case of patient choice.</p><p> </p><p>To support this plan and tackle waiting lists, including those in gynaecology, the Government has committed more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25 to drive up and protect elective activity. We are also increasing capacity, including for gynaecological surgery, through our surgical hubs, delivered by the Getting It Right First Time ‘High Volume Low Complexity’ programme.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2023 14:45:15 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1656710

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Diabetes: Medical Treatments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that type 2 diabetic patients have access to treatment in the context of shortages in the supply of Ozempic.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	196459
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2023 answer text <p>We are aware of a supply issue with Ozempic, which has been largely driven by off-label use for weight loss. We have issued guidance in the form of Medicine Supply Notifications and, on 18 July, issued a National Patient Safety Alert which made it clear that Ozempic, which is solely licensed to treat Type 2 diabetes, should only be used for that purpose, and should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.</p><p>We have engaged with relevant regulators and the General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards.</p><p>We have also added Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists to the list of medicines that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the United Kingdom.</p><p>We are continuing to work closely with manufacturers and others working in the supply chain to help ensure the continued supply of these medicines for UK patients, for example by asking suppliers to expedite deliveries. We have provided advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine whilst there are shortages and are keeping this under review as the situation evolves. If any patient is concerned about their treatment, they should discuss this with their clinician at the earliest opportunity.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2023 13:17:21 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1654470

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2023
	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	National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
	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 has provided guidance to NICE on the evidence used to inform the criteria updates to its Highly Specialised Technology processes.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	195282
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department has not issued any such guidance. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its guidance, including the criteria used to determine whether topics should be routed to the technology appraisal or highly specialised technologies programmes. NICE made changes to its health technology evaluation manual in January 2022 following a comprehensive review of its methods and processes, including public consultation. As part of these changes, the eligibility criteria for the highly specialised technologies programme were clarified to make them clearer and more predictable.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/09/2023 10:12:05 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1664875

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2023
	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	Forestry
	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 plans her Department has to support the planting of species of (a) plants and (b) trees native to the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	202569
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species. That is why, in England, we have set four legally binding targets for biodiversity: to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030; then to reverse declines by 2042; to reduce the risk of species extinction by 2042; and restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, also by 2042. We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23).</p><p> </p><p>Plant conservation is central to these ambitions, and we have funded, through agri-environmental schemes, the planting of native plant species to create wildlife rich habitats, for example for pollinators. Through the Species Recovery Programme, we have also supported specific recovery projects for our most threatened plant species such as lady’s slipper orchid and wild asparagus.</p><p> </p><p>Trees are an essential part of our nation’s biodiversity, and existing native woodlands are recognised as priority habitats. Establishing more native broadleaf and mixed woodlands will therefore play an important role in contributing to the broader goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan. This is why the England Woodland Creation Offer includes supplements that incentivise the creation of native woodland with high biodiversity potential.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 23/10/2023 12:45:51 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1697162

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Graduates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether UK Visa and Immigration is meeting the eight-week service standard for processing graduate visas.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	19517
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2024 answer text <p>We are operating within the eight-week service standard for Graduate applications.</p><p>Some applications may take longer if we have requested further information, or if their personal circumstances are complex. Further details can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-processing-times-applications-inside-the-uk#when-you-might-wait-longer" target="_blank">Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 27/03/2024 15:52:12 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1694955

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Home Office: Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether officials in his Department with responsibility for engaging with hon. Members are given training on the types of visas that are available.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	17926
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2024 answer text <p>Officials responsible for engaging with Hon. Members are required to complete an initial 12-week training programme, which includes training on the visa routes available.</p><p>Following the initial training programme, officials are subject to assurance checks on all their work until they are assessed to meet the required quality standard.</p><p>Ongoing development ensures that officials keep their understanding of immigration routes up to date.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 19/03/2024 14:47:09 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1692200

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department has reduced the amount of support given to people living in asylum accommodation which provides all their meals to £8.86 per week.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	16021
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2024 answer text <p>The level of the allowance given to those supported under section 95 and section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is reviewed each year to ensure it covers an asylum seeker’s essential living needs.</p><p>In setting the rates, we have utilised an alternative methodology to determine the costs of essential needs, which uses a ‘disaggregated CPI’ (Consumer Prices Index). The methodology has been designed to offer a more accurate measure of changes in the price of items to cover essential living needs. As previous rate increases have been made using CPI rates, this has led to an overestimate of the cost of essential needs for an individual in catered accommodation, therefore, using the methodology set out above, the catered rates have been slightly reduced.</p><p>Individuals accommodated in hotels and other catered sites are also provided 3 meals a day, snacks, water, toiletries, and some other services, in addition to their weekly allowance. Additional support is also available to pregnant women, young children, and individuals who provide evidence of exceptional needs.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 06/03/2024 12:47:26 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1688554

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Visas: Uzbekistan
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many student visas were issued to Uzbekistan nationals in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	13825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2024 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes data on visas in the ‘<a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fimmigration-statistics-quarterly-release&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRichard.Ancliff%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C52310d09ac084304d54408dbf7126d14%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638375430723053117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=CPVIPXVthL9uf7xo0HngEEhGsxhTCb7bPWUgyFiuhaQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release</a>’. Data on the number of study visas granted by nationality, are published in table Vis_D02 of the <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fimmigration-statistics-year-ending-june-2022%2Flist-of-tables%23entry-clearance-visas&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRichard.Ancliff%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C52310d09ac084304d54408dbf7126d14%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638375430723053117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ji%2BEXWhDzJa3ukssvrzRmfn72TPgXLoBrqf5xsagV4s%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Entry clearance visas applications and outcomes detailed dataset.</a></p><p> </p><p>Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data is up to, and including, 2023 Q3 (July to September).</p><p> </p><p>Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘<a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsearch%2Fresearch-and-statistics%3Fkeywords%3Dimmigration%26content_store_document_type%3Dupcoming_statistics%26organisations%255B%255D%3Dhome-office%26order%3Drelevance&amp;data=05%7C01%7CRichard.Ancliff%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C52310d09ac084304d54408dbf7126d14%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C638375430723053117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=iL2yDeZrSaZ9qapKnh2XRPnc1%2BsLFmsfncAkYJRVGUA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Research and statistics calendar</a>’.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 22/02/2024 14:48:00 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1682596

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Rwanda
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will hold discussions with the Leader of the House on making time for a (a) debate and (b) vote on the Government’s treaty with Rwanda before 31 January 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	9928
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government places great importance in providing opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny. We have sought to provide this opportunity during various parliamentary activity, but most notably as part of the passage of the Bill which is intrinsically linked and gives legal effect to the treaty. Most recently, we have had the two days of Commons Committee stage (Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 January) on the floor of House, allowing members to scrutinise this policy. We look forward to debating all aspects of the Bill as it is scrutinised by both Houses.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 24/01/2024 09:33:47 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel