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1673197

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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	Antibiotics: Drug Resistance
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 is taking to help reduce the threat of antimicrobial resistance to human health from overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	3771
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government takes a ‘One-Health’ approach to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as set out in the ‘<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fuk-5-year-action-plan-for-antimicrobial-resistance-2019-to-2024&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C52fa9914154a4463f68408dbf0cf2146%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638368545158632709%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=LmraYbpnLBJubTKipjkP9wncqI7OV0iauvrL8kK%2BAak%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’</a>, which is underpinned by the UK’s 20-year Vision to Contain and Control AMR by 2040 . Defra is a co-signatory with the Department of Health and Social Care on the 5-year National Acton Plan and 20-year vision on AMR, and Defra leads on delivering the animal, plant and environment elements.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is committed to reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals to reduce the risk of development and spread of AMR in animals and humans. In the UK, we have a well-established antimicrobial use and resistance surveillance programme, which includes monitoring of sales and use of antibiotics in animals as well as routine monitoring of AMR in major food-producing species, healthy pigs and poultry. These surveillance programmes allow us to monitor progress and results are published every year in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fveterinary-antimicrobial-resistance-and-sales-surveillance-2022&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C52fa9914154a4463f68408dbf0cf2146%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638368545158641017%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jzeONxTfOSuykUw1RiSOH8QKJ8AKRTqZntckzyHN5jM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance Sales and Surveillance</a> (UK-VARSS) report.</p><p> </p><p>The recently published <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fveterinary-antimicrobial-resistance-and-sales-surveillance-2022&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C52fa9914154a4463f68408dbf0cf2146%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638368545158647239%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=HHT5pIbb5llXzNIWN7RiWDiZo03%2BClBb83RywQGb9EM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">UK-VARSS report</a> shows that sales of antibiotics in food producing animals are at their lowest ever level, with a 59% reduction since 2014. This highlights the success of the UK’s voluntary and collaborative approach between Government and the farming and veterinary sectors to make sustainable reductions in antibiotic use whilst ensuring high animal health and welfare. The report also highlights that sales of highest priority, critically important antibiotics (HP-CIAs) have reduced by 82% since 2014 and account for less than half a percent of total sales. This is to ensure that these medically important antibiotics are protected for use in humans.</p><p> </p><p>The newly published third edition of <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F656488f11524e60011a100f8%2F_2681096-v1-Third_UK_One_Health_Report.PDF&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C52fa9914154a4463f68408dbf0cf2146%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638368545158652330%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GiSvsiKPmSJ2b0pXFrJ8VKqLxKilsEBT0eyOlxiuYgs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">The UK’s One Health report,</a> a joint report from Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), brings together antibiotic use and resistance data for people and animals and sales of antibiotics in 2019 show that approximately two thirds of antibiotics are used in people whilst one third are used in animals. This report demonstrates the UK Government’s One Health approach to tackling AMR to keep antibiotics working in both people and animals.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 05/12/2023 13:31:32 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1673198

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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	Veterinary Medicine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to (a) publish the results of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations consultation and (b) introduce revised regulations.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	3772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Veterinary medicines play a vital role in protecting our animals’ health and welfare. Defra is updating the Veterinary Medicines Regulations in respect of Great Britain, to ensure the Regulations continue to be fit for purpose, and we consulted on these changes earlier this year. We are finalising the response to the consultation, where we will set out the changes we are taking forward. We are aware that there is significant interest in our proposed changes and we are taking our time to make sure we get it right. We will then seek to introduce the revised Regulations as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 3960 question first answered 04/12/2023 17:09:11 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1671746

registered interest
date	21/11/2023
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	Health Services and Social Services: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the levels of compliance by health and social care providers with the Accessible Information Standard.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	2857
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>National Health Service organisations and publicly funded social care providers must comply with the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) to meet the communication needs of patients and carers with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss. NHS England has completed a review of the AIS to help ensure that everyone’s communication needs are met in health and care provision. The review considered the effectiveness of the current AIS, how the standard is implemented and enforced in practice, and identified recommendations for improvement.</p><p>One of the aims of the review was to strengthen assurance of implementation of the AIS, and a self-assessment framework has been developed to support providers of NHS and social care services to measure their performance against the AIS and develop improvement action plans to address gaps in implementation. The self-assessment framework has also been designed to help the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to gain insight into people's experiences and whether their accessible communication needs are being met, and help CQC better understand organisational performance and to include that in the CQC assessment framework for provider organisations.</p><p>Following publication of the revised standard, NHS England will continue work to support its implementation with awareness raising, communication and engagement and updated e-learning modules on the AIS to ensure NHS staff are better aware of the standard and their roles and responsibilities in implementing it.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 01/12/2023 13:33:09 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1671983

registered interest
date	21/11/2023
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	Bowel Cancer: Screening
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 she is taking to help increase access to bowel cancer screenings.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	2858
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>Based on advice from the UK National Screening Committee, the National Health Service is currently extending the age criteria for bowel cancer screening from between 60 and 74 years old so that screening will be available from the age of 50 years old; this is due to be completed by 2024/25. This will increase access for people who would have otherwise not been able to access the service.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 27/11/2023 16:11:07 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1670746

registered interest
date	17/11/2023
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	NHS: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of (a) updates to the programme manual used by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence including Rapid Access to Managed Access and (b) the introduction of the Innovative Medicines Fund.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	2397
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting rapid patient access to effective new medicines in a way that is fair to all parties and represents value to the National Health Service. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) plays an important role in supporting patient access to effective new medicines and is able to recommend most new medicines for use in the NHS. Where there is too much clinical uncertainty for NICE to be able to recommend routine funding, it is able to recommend medicines for use through the Cancer Drugs Fund or Innovative Medicines Fund which make promising medicines available to patients while further real-world evidence is collected to inform a final NICE recommendation.</p><p>NICE is responsible for the methods and processes it uses in the evaluation of new medicines and the changes that it has recently made to its evaluation processes will enable it to produce faster guidance on simpler, low-risk treatments. NICE and NHS England are exploring options for rapid entry to managed access (REMA) that build on the experience of the Cancer Drugs Fund and Innovative Medicines Fund to support managed access to medicines. NICE has not yet made any changes to its health technology evaluation manual related to REMA.</p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 22/11/2023 15:53:14 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1670720

registered interest
date	16/11/2023
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	National Security
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent steps his Department is taking to strengthen national security.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	900260
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>The Cabinet Office leads on, and coordinates across government, key elements of the UK’s national security policy. This includes the development and implementation of the Integrated Review Refresh. Published in March, the Refresh updated the government’s security, defence, development and foreign policy priorities to reflect changes in the global context since the Integrated Review 2021. Flowing from this, the Cabinet Office has played a key role in developing and overseeing the National Cyber Strategy, National Security and Investment Programme, and the Biological Security Strategy. The department is taking essential steps to ensure delivery of these and other issues.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Specific recent outcomes include the launch of the National Security and Investment Act call for evidence, and the leading role the department has played in coordinating the government’s response to several international and domestic crises.</p><p><strong></strong><br><br></p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 23/11/2023 18:36:31 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1669502

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Catering
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 he is taking steps to support the provision of a nutritionally balanced plant-based meals on menus for staff in his Department.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	1514
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>Defra provides a catering offering at four locations. There is a focus on healthy eating and the meal selection always includes plant-based options.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/11/2023 15:45:13 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1669503

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Catering
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he is taking steps to support the provision of a nutritionally balanced plant-based meals on menus for staff in his Department.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	1515
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2023 answer text <p>DLUHC offices are managed by the Government Property Agency.</p> answering member constituency Redcar answering member printed Jacob Young question first answered 20/11/2023 14:27:54 answering member 4825 label Biography information for Jacob Young
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1669504

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Veganism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to page 22 of the Vegan Society’s report entitled, Catering for Everyone: How far are councils catering to vegans, published in September 2023, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report's findings on the level of recognition by local authorities of veganism as a protected characteristic.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	1516
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>Ethical veganism has previously been found to be a philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010 by an employment tribunal, in an employment context. While this is not binding in other cases, all employers and service providers, including local authorities, should have regard to the differing dietary needs of people who they provide meals to, whether these are determined by health considerations, religious or philosophical belief. They should be aware that employees or service users may bring claims under the Act, where they consider they have been treated less favourably because of their belief in ethical veganism.</p><p>In addition, councils are subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty which requires them, in carrying out their functions, to have due regard to the need to achieve the objectives set out under s149 of the Equality Act 2010 to:</p><p>(a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010; (b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it and (c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Specific duties, set out in regulations, ensure transparency, and assist in the performance of this duty.</p><p>A person who believes that they have experienced discrimination because of a philosophical belief can take their case to a tribunal or court. Before doing so, they may wish to contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), a Government-funded helpline, which is the initial point of contact for anyone with discrimination concerns. The EASS provides free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns. The EASS also supports individuals to resolve issues using alternative informal dispute resolution and can advise you on what are the next steps to take when you feel you have been discriminated against. The EASS can also advise people on their options and can be contacted through their website at www.equalityadvisoryservice.com, by telephone on 0808 800 0082 or text phone on 0808 800 0084.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 21/11/2023 14:25:01 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1669511

registered interest
date	13/11/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Aviation: Fuels
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the comparative potential merits of different sustainable air fuels in the context of variation of lifecycle emissions within fuels denoted as the same type.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	1517
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can be easily blended with conventional jet fuel and then used in existing aircraft and engines. We recognise that SAF can be made from different low carbon feedstocks and technology pathways, and that the detail of these impact the lifecycle emission savings from the fuel. When using sustainable feedstocks, such as wastes or renewable electricity, to produce SAF, its use can reduce carbon emissions by 70% compared to conventional jet fuel.</p><p> </p><p>The SAF mandate, which will mandate jet fuel suppliers to supply increasing levels of SAF in the UK, will start in 2025. As a greenhouse gas (GHG) based scheme, it will encourage suppliers to source SAF that achieves the greatest emission reductions. It will also require the supplied SAF to meet a minimum emission reduction threshold, further strengthening our intention to support SAF that meets the highest sustainability criteria.</p><p> </p><p>In 2022, under the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) 48 million litres of SAF were supplied in the UK, with a reported average of 90% emission reductions. We expect the SAF mandate to build upon these volumes and increase the demand for SAF in the UK.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Cambridgeshire answering member printed Anthony Browne question first answered 16/11/2023 15:21:05 answering member 4801 label Biography information for Anthony Browne
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith