Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1015011

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2018
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Developing Countries: Life Expectancy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to increase the life expectancy of people in deprived regions throughout the world.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	195598
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2018 answer text <p>Ensuring access for all to quality essential health and nutrition services is critical to increasing life expectancy and leaving no one behind. DFID assists countries to strengthen their health systems to ensure access to quality health services, medicines, and other essential commodities; save lives and improve women’s and children’s health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights; protect communities from health threats such as disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance; prevent and treat malnutrition; and tackle diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria that cause death and disability. As the second largest donor to the Global Fund, our funding contributed to the distribution of 197 million mosquito nets and the treatment of 108 million cases of malaria in 2017. Our investment to Gavi between 2016 and 2020 will vaccinate 76m children and save 1.4m lives.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 30/11/2018 16:33:32 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1037126

	registered interest
	date	07/01/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Iran: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the protection of human rights of women in Iran.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	205932
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2019 answer text <p>​Iran's human rights record continues to be of serious concern to the UK, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has designated it as one of its Human Rights Priority Countries. Women do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as men in Iran and continue to face discrimination. We regularly raise the human rights of women with the Iranians at all levels, including at ministerial level, and we continue to take action with the international community through the EU and UN to press Iran to improve its poor record on the human rights of women in Iran.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 15/01/2019 16:10:51 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1041568

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Saudi Arabia: Human Rights
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in relation to (a) women and (b) political activists in Saudi Arabia.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	208797
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2019 answer text <p>Saudi Arabia remains a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/saudi-arabia-human-rights-priority-country/saudi-arabia-human-rights-priority-country" target="_blank">Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country</a>, particularly because of the use of the death penalty, women's rights and restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief.</p><p>We welcome recent positive developments, including the end on the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, but recognise women's rights still fall short of international standards.</p><p>The UK strongly supports freedom of expression. We believe that civil society organisations and individuals should have the freedom to express their opinions, including where they challenge government policy. This includes Human Rights Defenders – those people that seek to promote universal human rights for their fellow citizens. We support them as a matter of principle, provided they do not advocate or use violent means.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 22/01/2019 15:43:47 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1041569

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Narges Mohammadi
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps is he taking to ensure that (a) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and (b) Narges Mohammadi receive adequate and timely medical care.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	208798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2019 answer text <p>The treatment of all British-Iranians detained in Iran, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a priority for the Government. We urgently raise these cases with the Iranian Government at every opportunity. On 14 January, the Foreign Secretary summoned the Iranian Ambassdor to the UK. The Foreign Secretary called for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe to be immediately given the healthcare she requires and for her and other British-Iranian dual nationals to be released. The Iranian authorities have since confirmed that access to external medical treatment will be permitted. We will continue to raise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case, as well as our other consular cases, with the Iranian Government at every opportunity, including requesting consular access, and will continue to take action in line with what we believe will produce the best outcomes in their cases. We are only able to provide consular support to British nationals, including dual nationals, and to otherwise un-represented EU and Commonwealth nationals. Mrs Mohammadi as she holds Iranian nationality only, is not eligible for consular assistance.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 22/01/2019 15:46:11 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

346914

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Care Homes: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that residents in care homes have access to therapies to improve their mental wellbeing.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	44
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2015 answer text <p>Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities must promote wellbeing when carrying out any of their care and support functions in respect of a person. This is sometimes referred to as “the wellbeing principle” because it is a guiding principle that puts wellbeing at the heart of care and support. The definition of wellbeing includes physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Assessments under the Care Act will identify the person’s needs and how these impact on their wellbeing. Care Plans must detail the needs to be met and how the needs will be met, and will link back to the outcomes that the adult wishes to achieve in day-to-day life as identified in the assessment process and to the wellbeing principle in the Act.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has recognised the importance of doing more to consider the mental wellbeing of people in care homes and asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to prioritise this area for one of its first Quality Standards for adult social care which were published in December 2013. The links to these standards can be found here:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph16" target="_blank">http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph16</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs50" target="_blank">http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs50</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/mental-wellbeing-and-older-people" target="_blank">http://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/mental-wellbeing-and-older-people</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulations 2014 sets out the fundamental standards of care people should expect. Regulation 9 – person centred care, makes clear that; “Providers must make every reasonable effort to provide opportunities to involve people in making decisions about their care and treatment, and support them to do this. This includes physical, psychological or emotional support, or support to get information in an accessible format or to understand the content.”</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The independent regulator, the Care Quality Commission when inspecting services to make sure they meet the fundamental standards of quality and safety, use NICE guidelines and quality standards as evidence to inform its inspection processes and to inform the award of good and outstanding ratings.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A link to the 2008 regulations can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/regulations-service-providers-and-managers" target="_blank">http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/regulations-service-providers-and-managers</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme, introduced in 2010, offers patients routine NICE approved talking therapies for the treatment of common mental health disorders including anxiety and depression. The programme aims to provide access to at least 15% of those who require treatment by March 2015 (data available July 2015). NHS England is leading work to ensure that older adults and other under-represented groups are encouraged to seek the help that they need.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 03/06/2015 14:40:41 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

346977

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Hearing Aids
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure the availability of hearing aids.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	56
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2015 answer text <p>Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for the provision of conventional hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss within their local population. As with other services CCGs commission, they should take into consideration assessments of local need and any relevant clinical guidance from appropriate national bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 03/06/2015 11:12:31 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

349186

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Anorexia: Medical Treatments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with the British Medical Association and other medical bodies the use of electrical probes to help cure anorexia.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	1555
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2015 answer text <p>It is for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to provide guidance to clinicians on the use of treatments for specific conditions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 16/06/2015 14:25:36 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

381486

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Hearing Impairment: Medical Treatments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to consider the use of new drugs and treatments for hearing loss and tinnitus.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	2667
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2015 answer text <p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for developing technology appraisal guidance for the National Health Service on whether new and existing treatments represent an effective use of NHS resources. NHS commissioners are required to fund drugs and treatments recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department is aware of a number of treatments for specific types of hearing loss, as well tinnitus, which are currently in development. The safety and efficacy of these treatments would need to be sufficiently demonstrated in clinical trials before they could become publically available and appropriate for consideration by NICE.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 23/06/2015 10:05:33 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

387048

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Voluntary Work: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to encourage people to visit elderly neighbours with poor health.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	5044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p>In a recent speech to the Local Government Association the Secretary of State for Health urged the public to take more personal responsibility for looking after older people. He stressed that the health service, local government, the voluntary sector as well as individuals themselves need to work together to ensure vulnerable people such as the elderly continue to live their life in the community.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Through the Care Act 2014, the Department has required local authorities to have measures in place to identify people in their area who would benefit from universal services to help reduce, delay or prevent needs for care and support. This includes needs that may arise from social isolation. The Department has supported a ‘digital toolkit’ for local commissioners, which was developed by the Campaign to End Loneliness. Since its launch in July 2012, the toolkit has been supporting commissioners in understanding, mapping and commissioning for loneliness and social isolation in their communities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Care Act also provides for greater support for carers to support family and friends who need help. In the Secretary of State’s speech he committed the Department to develop a new carers’ strategy that looks at the best of international practice and examines what more we can do to support existing carers and the new carers we will need.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department has published its strategic vision for volunteering, <em>Social action for health and well-being: building co-operative communities.</em> This sets out how we can support people to give their time, more often and in ways that fit in with their lives, to bring health and wellbeing benefits for themselves and others in their communities.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 06/07/2015 16:28:10 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

388282

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Cataracts: Surgery
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cataract operations have been conducted for people in each age group in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	6040
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2015 answer text <p>The number of cataract operations in England over the last five years are shown in the attached table. In 2013-14 there were 365,470. This compares to 343,970 operations in 2009-10. The 70-79 and 80-89 age groups had the largest number of operations accounting for 68% of cataract operations in 2013-14.</p><p><br><br></p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 14/07/2015 16:45:52 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt attachment 1 file name Cataract Operations 2009-14.docx title Cataract operations (England) per age group 09-14
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon