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682331

registered interest
date	31/01/2017
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Heart Diseases: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart valve disease among people aged over 65 to ensure early diagnosis of that disease.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	62589
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2017 answer text <p>Public Health England has recently run a Be Clear on Cancer campaign to raise awareness of respiratory symptoms, including breathlessness, which can be a symptom of heart disease.</p><p> </p><p>The campaign aimed to encourage those with inappropriate breathlessness or a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more to go and see their general practitioner. It was primarily aimed at earlier diagnosis of heart and lung disease, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and cancer, with scope to reduce premature mortality and to improve the quality of life of those living with these conditions.</p><p> </p><p>The activity is aimed at men and women who are over the age of 50 from lower socioeconomic groups, and their key influencers, such as friends and family.</p><p> </p><p>The campaign ran from 14 July to 16 October 2016 and appeared on national television, radio, print, online and face-to-face events in shopping centres.</p> answering member constituency Warrington South answering member printed David Mowat question first answered 08/02/2017 16:27:07 answering member 4080 label Biography information for David Mowat
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

682332

registered interest
date	31/01/2017
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Heart Diseases: 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 make an assessment of the potential merits of rolling out routine stethoscope checks by a trained primary care healthcare professional for peopled aged over 65 to ensure the effective diagnosis of heart valve disease.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	62590
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2017 answer text <p>Whether stethoscope examination of all over 65 year olds would be a cost-effective health intervention is untested and would need further consideration by the UK National Screening Committee.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England has requested that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence prepare and publish guidance on valve disease.</p> answering member constituency Warrington South answering member printed David Mowat question first answered 08/02/2017 10:13:28 answering member 4080 label Biography information for David Mowat
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

678649

registered interest
date	25/01/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Tobacco
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce demand for illicit tobacco.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61624
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2017 answer text <p>The joint HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)/Border Force strategy ('Tackling Illicit Tobacco: From leaf to light') ‎published on GOV.UK on 24 March 2015 sets out a comprehensive framework to tackle this problem at all points in the supply chain, to deter and punish involvement in the fraud and reduce demand. HMRC and Border Force work closely with other enforcement agencies, including Trading Standards and the police to target those involved in the fraud. Since 2000, the illicit market for cigarettes has reduced from 22% to 13% and for hand rolling tobacco from 61% to 32%.</p><p> </p><p>There is a wide range of sanctions available to tackle the sale of illicit tobacco (and alcohol) including seizure of products and cash, financial penalties and a maximum penalty of seven year’s imprisonment. In the last two years alone, over 3.5 billion illicit cigarettes and around 600 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco have been seized resulting in 848 prosecutions.</p><p> </p><p>On prosecution, HMRC can also apply for withdrawal of retailers' alcohol licenses and orders prohibiting the use of premises for the sale of tobacco for a period of up to 6 months. Additionally, as a result of coordinated activity with other enforcement agencies, action can be taken on wider tobacco offences, such as under-age sales, and on vehicle licensing and immigration offences.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC works to raise awareness of the consequences of participation in the illicit market, its links with organised criminality and the related harm that illicit tobacco causes to individuals, communities and legitimate high street businesses. HMRC has been using behavioural insight to better promote awareness of the issue and deter participation in the fraud, for example through campaigns it has undertaken involving hauliers, coach drivers and retailers.</p><p> </p><p>As announced at Budget 2016, following the informal consultation HMRC is currently developing options, with particular focus on the approach taken to repeat offenders, and plans to consult formally later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison grouped question UIN 61623 61626 question first answered 02/02/2017 16:33:17 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

678670

registered interest
date	25/01/2017
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Tobacco: Smuggling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will bring forward proposals to include the sale of illicit tobacco as an offence under the Restricted Premises Order.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61625
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2017 answer text <p>Restricted Premise Orders are a sanction under the Children’s and Families Act 1933 (as amended) for the underage sale of tobacco. The Government has no current plans to amend this primary legislation.</p> answering member constituency Oxford West and Abingdon answering member printed Nicola Blackwood question first answered 02/02/2017 17:44:58 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

678671

registered interest
date	25/01/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Reoffenders: Sentencing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has to increase the penalties for recidivist offenders caught selling illegal products.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2017 answer text <p>The joint HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)/Border Force strategy ('Tackling Illicit Tobacco: From leaf to light') ‎published on GOV.UK on 24 March 2015 sets out a comprehensive framework to tackle this problem at all points in the supply chain, to deter and punish involvement in the fraud and reduce demand. HMRC and Border Force work closely with other enforcement agencies, including Trading Standards and the police to target those involved in the fraud. Since 2000, the illicit market for cigarettes has reduced from 22% to 13% and for hand rolling tobacco from 61% to 32%.</p><p> </p><p>There is a wide range of sanctions available to tackle the sale of illicit tobacco (and alcohol) including seizure of products and cash, financial penalties and a maximum penalty of seven year’s imprisonment. In the last two years alone, over 3.5 billion illicit cigarettes and around 600 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco have been seized resulting in 848 prosecutions.</p><p> </p><p>On prosecution, HMRC can also apply for withdrawal of retailers' alcohol licenses and orders prohibiting the use of premises for the sale of tobacco for a period of up to 6 months. Additionally, as a result of coordinated activity with other enforcement agencies, action can be taken on wider tobacco offences, such as under-age sales, and on vehicle licensing and immigration offences.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC works to raise awareness of the consequences of participation in the illicit market, its links with organised criminality and the related harm that illicit tobacco causes to individuals, communities and legitimate high street businesses. HMRC has been using behavioural insight to better promote awareness of the issue and deter participation in the fraud, for example through campaigns it has undertaken involving hauliers, coach drivers and retailers.</p><p> </p><p>As announced at Budget 2016, following the informal consultation HMRC is currently developing options, with particular focus on the approach taken to repeat offenders, and plans to consult formally later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison grouped question UIN 61623 61624 question first answered 02/02/2017 16:33:17 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

678672

registered interest
date	25/01/2017
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks: Licensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will take steps to increase the powers of trading standards officers to allow them to withdraw alcohol licences for those caught selling illicit tobacco.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61627
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2017 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to increase the powers of trading standards officers to allow them to withdraw alcohol licences for those caught selling illegal tobacco. Trading standards officers may ask the licensing authority to review a premises licence because of a matter arising at the premises in connection with any of the four licensing objectives, which include the prevention of crime. The licensing authority may revoke the licence where they consider this appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 07/02/2017 13:26:09 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

678673

registered interest
date	25/01/2017
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Tobacco: Smuggling
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce the sale of illicit tobacco.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61623
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2017 answer text <p>The joint HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)/Border Force strategy ('Tackling Illicit Tobacco: From leaf to light') ‎published on GOV.UK on 24 March 2015 sets out a comprehensive framework to tackle this problem at all points in the supply chain, to deter and punish involvement in the fraud and reduce demand. HMRC and Border Force work closely with other enforcement agencies, including Trading Standards and the police to target those involved in the fraud. Since 2000, the illicit market for cigarettes has reduced from 22% to 13% and for hand rolling tobacco from 61% to 32%.</p><p> </p><p>There is a wide range of sanctions available to tackle the sale of illicit tobacco (and alcohol) including seizure of products and cash, financial penalties and a maximum penalty of seven year’s imprisonment. In the last two years alone, over 3.5 billion illicit cigarettes and around 600 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco have been seized resulting in 848 prosecutions.</p><p> </p><p>On prosecution, HMRC can also apply for withdrawal of retailers' alcohol licenses and orders prohibiting the use of premises for the sale of tobacco for a period of up to 6 months. Additionally, as a result of coordinated activity with other enforcement agencies, action can be taken on wider tobacco offences, such as under-age sales, and on vehicle licensing and immigration offences.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC works to raise awareness of the consequences of participation in the illicit market, its links with organised criminality and the related harm that illicit tobacco causes to individuals, communities and legitimate high street businesses. HMRC has been using behavioural insight to better promote awareness of the issue and deter participation in the fraud, for example through campaigns it has undertaken involving hauliers, coach drivers and retailers.</p><p> </p><p>As announced at Budget 2016, following the informal consultation HMRC is currently developing options, with particular focus on the approach taken to repeat offenders, and plans to consult formally later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison grouped question UIN 61624 61626 question first answered 02/02/2017 16:33:17 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

676072

registered interest
date	20/01/2017
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Zambia: Energy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has received on Zambia's diversification of its energy mix.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61005
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2017 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has not received any representations on Zambia’s energy mix. The UK is playing an active role alongside other partners to help Zambia diversify its energy mix given its high reliance on hydroelectricity.</p> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 26/01/2017 17:16:15 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

676073

registered interest
date	20/01/2017
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: Electricity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the provision of reliable base-load electricity in delivering Sustainable Development Goals other than goal seven.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2017 answer text <p>Energy poverty puts a brake on economic and social development and undermines the lives of hundreds of millions of people. Our policy is to support a range of generation technologies and distribution approaches (grid, off-grid, mini-grid), including base-load electricity when we can clearly add value. Reliable power from base-load electricity and other sources contributes to a number of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is crucial, for example, to controlling costs for businesses that might otherwise need to run expensive generators to maintain production (SDG 9). There is a knock on effect to employment, incomes and a range of associated social indicators. Reliable power is also crucial for running public services – such as water and sanitation systems or health clinics – effectively (SDGs 3 and 6) and can help increase school enrolment and attendance rates (SDG 4).</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 27/01/2017 13:24:38 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

676074

registered interest
date	20/01/2017
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: Electricity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the relative costs of (a) coal, (b) gas, (c) oil, (d) nuclear, (e) offshore wind, (f) onshore wind, (g) large-scale hydro and (h) solar PV in the delivery of utility scale electrification in developing countries.
tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
uin	61007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2017 answer text <p>DFID is committed to supporting low-income countries to adopt climate-smart approaches to addressing their acute energy deficits. The relative costs of different technologies will depend on individual country contexts. Full life-cycle and environmental costs should be considered. In November 2015, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, with DFID support, published a study of costs of different technologies in 14 developing countries (‘Levelised Costs of Electricity’). Since this study was completed, there has been a rapid reduction in the costs of renewable technologies, especially solar.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 27/01/2017 13:23:19 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma