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1698374

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	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	Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination
	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 she has made of the adequacy of the uptake of the cervical cancer vaccine.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	20311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>The routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for adolescents offers a life-saving vaccine to all children in Year 8, to protect them against strains of HPV that can cause some cancers including cervical, anal, head, and neck. High-risk HPV DNA is found in over 99% of all cervical cancers. The UKHSA monitors uptake of the adolescent HPV vaccination programme, and publishes annual statistics for England and the United Kingdom, with further information available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-2022-to-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/human-papillomavirus-hpv-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-2022-to-2023</a></p><p>This data is used by local NHS Screening and Immunisation Teams to develop local plans to improve uptake and reduce inequalities, in collaboration with key partners such as directors of public health, and their teams in local authorities. Publication of statistical data also generates national communication activity, to raise awareness and improve uptake.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 15/04/2024 08:52:54 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1698376

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Slavery: Victims
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the national referral mechanism.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	20312
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government is focussed on improving National Referral Mechanism (NRM) decision-making timescales. We have seen an unprecedented increase in the volume of referrals in the NRM; a 625% rise between 2014 and 2022. In 2023, 17,004 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office, the highest annual number since the NRM began in 2009. Despite this, since January 2023 the number of decisions outstanding has been coming down for the first time ever, showing that what we are doing is working.</p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that genuine victims are identified and introduced legislation under the Nationality and Borders Act to ensure that there is a robust system which supports victims and reduces the opportunity for misuse.</p><p>The Home Office holds all policies and procedures under review to ensure they are effective in delivering the aims of the government. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of the NRM accordingly.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 19/04/2024 12:16:28 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697023

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pensions: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is taking steps to encourage young people under the age of 18 to opt in to pensions.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19353
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The 2017 Review of Automatic Enrolment (AE) sets out our ambition to reduce the qualifying age for AE below 22, so that younger workers can begin to save as soon as they join the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>The government supported the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 which gives us the legislative powers to implement this expansion of AE subject to consultation with employers and workers. Government is committed to make this change in the mid-2020s.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, the current AE framework allows workers who are not automatic enrolled to opt-in to a workplace pension, including those below age 22, and many employers already choose to enrol those workers.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 26/03/2024 11:34:10 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697024

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	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	Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination
	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 encourage the uptake of HPV vaccinations in schools.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19354
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>National Health Service Commissioned School Aged Immunisation Service providers have robust catch-up plans in place for the adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme based on population need, utilising opportunities from the move to one dose in September 2023.</p><p>The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with several charities to develop resources that can be used to raise awareness of HPV. UKHSA also publishes annual statistics to support local NHS teams in developing plans to improve HPV uptake and reduce inequalities.</p><p>NHS England has improved digital communications on vaccinations, including expanding the NHS app, and improved vaccine access outside of schools through community clinics at convenient times and locations. UKHSA produces a number HPV resources which are available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hpv-vaccination-programme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hpv-vaccination-programme</a></p><p>Other materials are available on the UKHSA Health Publications website in a range of language and accessible formats, which are available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/Home.html" target="_blank">https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/Home.html</a></p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 26/03/2024 11:14:33 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697025

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	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	Measles: Diagnosis
	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 diagnoses of measles there have been in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes routine data on laboratory confirmed measles.</p><p>Between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, there have been 368 laboratory confirmed cases in the England. From 1 October 2023, there have been 730 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in England.</p><p>The 2023 data is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-epidemiology-2023/confirmed-cases-of-measles-in-england-by-month-age-and-region-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-epidemiology-2023/confirmed-cases-of-measles-in-england-by-month-age-and-region-2023</a></p><p>As part of the national incident response, 2024 data is currently being published weekly at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-epidemiology-2023/national-measles-standard-incident-measles-epidemiology-from-october-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-epidemiology-2023/national-measles-standard-incident-measles-epidemiology-from-october-2023</a></p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 26/03/2024 11:18:34 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697026

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Domestic Abuse: Convictions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions for domestic abuse there have been in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19356
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of convictions for criminal offences covering the period requested. The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained in the following published tool: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65bd0675704282000d752143/outcomes-by-offence-june-2023.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence tool: June 2023</a>.</p><p>However, it is not possible to separately identify convictions for ‘domestic abuse’ because the information held centrally is related to the offence in law for which a defendant is convicted for. Domestic abuse related offences can be prosecuted under a wide range of legally defined offences. This information may be held on court records, but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 27/03/2024 12:56:58 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697027

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Crimes of Violence: Convictions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions for aggravated assault there have been in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of convictions for criminal offences, including various assault offences, covering the time period requested. The latest data available, until year ending June 2023, can be obtained in the following published tool: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65bd0675704282000d752143/outcomes-by-offence-june-2023.xlsx" target="_blank">Outcomes by Offence tool: June 2023</a>.</p><p>Information relating to aggravating factors for assault offences is only available centrally where this forms a specific offence in legislation, including those listed below. Information on other aggravating factors may be held on court records but to examine individual court records to identify all aggravated assaults would be of disproportionate costs.</p><ul><li>8.06 Racially or religiously aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm</li><li>8.07 Racially or religiously aggravated common assault or beating</li></ul> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Gareth Bacon question first answered 27/03/2024 12:52:43 answering member 4798 label Biography information for Gareth Bacon
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697029

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	217
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Sports: Artificial Intelligence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the sporting industry.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The government is committed to using technology to help drive increased participation at every level, as well as economic growth in the sector.</p><p>The government will continue to work with both the technology and the sport sectors to help identify innovative, inclusive digital solutions which help increase participation and activity.<strong><br></strong></p><p>On artificial intelligence specifically, for the development of the National AI Strategy and the AI regulation white paper, the government engaged with hundreds of businesses across a range of sectors, including civil society. We will continue this engagement to understand the impacts AI may have on different industries.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 26/03/2024 10:17:59 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697030

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	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: Diagnosis
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of people diagnosed with mouth cancer in the last twelve months.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19359
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2024 answer text <p>The information requested is not available for the last twelve months. The most recent data available from 2021 shows 9,018 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer in England. Further information is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-registration-statistics/england-2021---summary-counts-only" target="_blank">https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-registration-statistics/england-2021---summary-counts-only</a></p> answering member constituency Pendle answering member printed Andrew Stephenson question first answered 27/03/2024 10:13:35 answering member 4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1697031

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2024
	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	Fisheries: Northern Ireland
	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 has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on the number of skilled workers employed in the Northern Irish fisheries industry.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19360
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government believes that every role in the fishing industry in Northern Ireland requires a wide variety of skills. The most recent statistics from the Marine Management Organisation’s Sea Fisheries Statistics 2022 show that the fishing industry in Northern Ireland employed 799 people, all of whom are skilled.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 22/04/2024 13:00:51 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1696605

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Hong Kong: Asylum
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether Ministers in his Department have plans to meet with Hong Kong activists (a) Nathan Law, (b) Finn Lau and (c) Christopher Mung.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19056
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2024 answer text <p>We will not tolerate any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK. Officials in Hong Kong, Beijing and London have raised the issuing of arrest warrants and bounties for these individuals with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. As the Foreign Secretary said on 14 December, the Hong Kong Police are deliberately targeting individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression. We have called for the repeal of the National Security Law and continue to make clear our strong objections, including to its extraterritorial reach. That extends to the decisions by the Hong Kong Police to issue arrest warrants and bounties for activists. We call on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law and end its persecution of political activists.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 28/03/2024 09:40:10 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1696606

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	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	Asthma
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department plans to issue to asthmatic people on projected high pollen levels this summer.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19057
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>At present, NHS England has no plans to issue guidance to asthmatic people on projected high pollen levels this summer. However, the National Health Service website contains advice on asthma, which includes advice on understanding and managing triggers, such as pollen. The NHS site also links to Asthma and Lung UK’s advice on asthma management, which contains more detailed information on managing triggers, and how best to reduce risk when pollen levels are high.</p><p>The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has new capabilities for monitoring real-time pollen levels for this year’s pollen season. This adds to the UKHSA’s Real-time Syndromic Surveillance, which includes the monitoring of presentations of asthma to the NHS. The UKHSA also provides weekly updates via publicly available surveillance bulletins, which are available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/syndromic-surveillance-systems-and-analyses" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/syndromic-surveillance-systems-and-analyses</a>.</p><p>In addition to this work, the Met Office provides alerts and advice when pollen levels are high. These alerts provide valuable information on pollen levels over the next five days for asthmatics and hayfever sufferers, so they can appropriately modify their planned future activities, and ensure they use or have their medication with them.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 26/03/2024 13:47:43 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1696607

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Falkland Islands
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his European Union counterparts on the July 2023 summit declaration between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States that referred to the Falklands Islands as Islas Malvinas.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19058
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>We engage in multilateral and bilateral fora, including with the European Union and its Member States, in support of the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination. Following publication of the EU - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit communiqué, the EU publicly clarified their position has not changed. We will, in all fora at which the UK is present, continue to insist on the use of the name that the Islanders recognise and wish to use: the Falkland Islands. This reflects the UK's unequivocal commitment to upholding the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination, including in our discussions with the EU and its Member States.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 26/03/2024 16:49:21 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1696608

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2024
	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	Rented Housing: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help individuals aged over 65 living in rented accommodation.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	19059
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The Renters (Reform) Bill is currently making its way through Parliament. It will deliver the Government’s commitment to a fairer private rented sector in England, improving the system for responsible tenants and good faith landlords.</p> answering member constituency Redcar answering member printed Jacob Young question first answered 26/03/2024 14:08:33 answering member 4825 label Biography information for Jacob Young
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1696257

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2024
	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	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Children
	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 people under the age of 18 were diagnosed with ADHD in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18705
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2024 answer text <p>Data on the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not held centrally, but may be held locally by individual National Health Service trusts or commissioners.</p><p>The Department is exploring options for improving data collection and reporting on waiting times for ADHD assessments and diagnoses, to help improve access to ADHD assessments in a timely way and in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines. In line with this, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has commissioned a research project to provide initial insights into local ADHD assessment waiting times data collection, and NHS England is currently scoping a national programme of work on ADHD, to understand more about the issues relating to ADHD service provision across the country.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 03/04/2024 15:12:22 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1696258

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2024
	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	Housing: Rural Areas
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the building of homes in rural areas.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18706
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to building more homes, more quickly, more beautifully and more sustainably, and we must build homes in the places where people want to live and work.</p><p>National planning policy expects local authorities to deliver, where practicable, the amount, type and tenure of new homes our communities need. Each authority is expected to assess and plan how to meet its local housing need over the plan period, and this includes meeting the housing needs of rural communities. Our Rural Exception Sites policy helps local authorities to address the needs of rural communities by accommodating residents and those with family or employment connections to the locality. Rural exception sites tend to be just outside village boundaries, where housing is not normally granted permission.</p> answering member constituency North East Derbyshire answering member printed Lee Rowley question first answered 20/03/2024 16:11:56 answering member 4652 label Biography information for Lee Rowley
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695718

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	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	Levelling Up Fund: Strangford
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much and what proportion of levelling up funding allocated to Northern Ireland has been for projects within Strangford constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18444
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK Government is investing over £15 billion in a suite of complementary Levelling Up projects to help grow the economy, create jobs, improve transport, provide skills training and support local businesses.</p><p>Overall, Northern Ireland has received around £435 million in Levelling Up funding and Strangford constituency has benefited from this funding, through a range of funds. In addition, a number of DLUHC funds are being made available to the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the financial package, further increasing the spending power available to the Executive and allowing it to invest against its own priorities. The full list of the UK Government funds which are being made available to the Executive is at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-confirms-33bn-spending-settlement-for-restored-northern-ireland-executive" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>.</p><p>Strangford constituency benefits from a share of UKSPF funding of around £104 million for Northern Ireland.</p><p>In addition, Northern Ireland has benefited from £150 million funding through the Levelling Up Fund, which includes £3.2 million for Ards and North Down Borough Council’s pedestrian and cycle Green-ways and £5.1 million towards Ulster Rugby’s Club Capital Improvement Project, as well as £30 million set aside from Round 3 towards the financial package for the restored executive.</p><p>The Community Renewal Fund has provided £12 million in funding to Northern Ireland, which includes projects within the Council areas in the Strangford constituency and projects Northern Ireland wide worth £6.75 million, where the benefits will be felt in Strangford constituency.</p> answering member constituency Redcar answering member printed Jacob Young question first answered 21/03/2024 14:47:23 answering member 4825 label Biography information for Jacob Young
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695719

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	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	Electronic Cigarettes: Children
	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 assessment she has made of the (a) prevalence of the use of disposable vapes by people under the age of 18 and (b) impact of that use on their health.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18445
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>Vaping is never recommended for children and carries the risk of future harm and addiction. The active ingredient in most vapes, apart from nicotine-free vapes, is nicotine which, when inhaled, is a highly addictive drug. Evidence suggests that the brain in adolescence is more sensitive to the effects of nicotine, so there could be additional risks for young people. The long-term health harms of colours and flavours when inhaled are unknown, but they are certainly very unlikely to be beneficial.</p><p>The Department does not hold data on the prevalence of the use of disposable vapes by people under the age of 18 years old. However, Action on Smoking and Health’s survey, Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain, found that 69% of vape users aged 11 to 17 years old mainly used disposable vapes in 2023, rising from 7.7% in 2021. Northern Ireland’s Young person’s behaviour and attitude survey 2022, shows that 85.7% of 11 to 16 year olds in Northern Ireland who currently use vapes, reported that they used disposables. Both surveys are available respectively at the following links:</p><p><a href="https://ash.org.uk/resources/view/use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-great-britain" target="_blank">https://ash.org.uk/resources/view/use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-great-britain</a></p><p><a href="https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/young-persons-behaviour-and-attitudes-survey-2022-substance-use-data-tables" target="_blank">https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/young-persons-behaviour-and-attitudes-survey-2022-substance-use-data-tables</a></p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 20/03/2024 15:56:17 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695725

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	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	Long Covid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of people with long covid.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18446
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government does not currently routinely record the total number of people with long COVID, or new cases identified. However, the most recent data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that for the four week period ending 5 March 2023: 1.9 million people, or 2.9% of the population, in private households in the United Kingdom reported experiencing long COVID symptoms; 83,000 people first had, or suspected they had, COVID-19 less than 12 weeks previously; 1.73 million people had symptoms for 12 or more weeks, 1.3 million people for at least a year and 762,000 for at least two years; and 1.5 million people reported day-to-day activities adversely affected. Of these, 381,000 people reported that their ability to undertake day-to-day activities had been limited a lot.</p><p>On 25 April 2024, the ONS will be publishing additional analysis from the fortnightly Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study, including data on trends in ongoing symptoms of COVID-19. This article will expand on the existing analysis published in the Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study’s data tables, to look more in depth at trends in self-reported symptoms of COVID-19, including ongoing symptoms and associated risk factors.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 18/03/2024 10:50:47 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695726

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Heathrow Airport: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Heathrow Airport on expansion of the airport.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Secretary of State has had no recent discussion with Heathrow Airport Ltd on proposals to expand the airport.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Cambridgeshire answering member printed Anthony Browne question first answered 20/03/2024 15:39:32 answering member 4801 label Biography information for Anthony Browne
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695734

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	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	Cot Deaths
	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 her Department is taking to raise awareness of what can be done to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>Prevention and early intervention are paramount to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and we want to ensure that every family receives the support and guidance they need during the early days of parenthood.</p><p>Health visitors have an important role supporting child health, wellbeing, and parenting confidence. They support families in improving health literacy, managing minor illnesses, and preventing accidents, including promoting safe sleeping for babies. Health visitors can also work with early years services to ensure that safer sleep messages are promoted across early years services. Further information is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-of-public-health-services-for-children/early-years-high-impact-area-5-improving-health-literacy-managing-minor-illnesses-and-reducing-accidents" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-of-public-health-services-for-children/early-years-high-impact-area-5-improving-health-literacy-managing-minor-illnesses-and-reducing-accidents</a></p><p>The Department is also working alongside NHS England and the National Child Mortality Database (NMCD) to increase the data bank on SIDS, to increase our evidence base, understanding, and inform actions and policy.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 18/03/2024 17:41:19 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695738

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Pensioners: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with Age NI on support for isolated pensioners in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18449
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>While policies on this matter are ultimately devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, the Secretary of State is committed to continuing to engage with groups across all sectors of society in Northern Ireland to discuss how the UK Government can support them.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Mr Steve Baker question first answered 20/03/2024 14:23:31 answering member 4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695754

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Tibet: Buddhism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make it his policy to support religious self-governance for Tibetan Buddhists.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The freedom to practice, change or share one's faith or belief without discrimination is a human right that all people, including Tibetan Buddhists, should enjoy. The UK Government will continue to do all that we can to encourage freedoms of religious and cultural expression in Tibet and across China. For example, we view the appointment of the next Dalai Lama as a matter for the relevant religious authorities to decide in line with those freedoms of religion and belief.</p><p>The UK Government consistently raises human rights issues with the Chinese authorities - the Foreign Secretary did so in February with China's Foreign Minister. We also regularly raise Tibet in multilateral fora, for example, in January at China's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 21/03/2024 11:49:31 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695223

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	China: India
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the relationship between India and China.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18163
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK has an independent relationship with both India and China. Relations between these two countries are a matter for their governments to progress and manage through peaceful means. The UK has no direct role.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 20/03/2024 17:50:56 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1695224

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2024
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Jimmy Lai
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he is taking steps to ensure that Jimmy Lai receives regular consular access.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	18164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>Ministers and officials continue to raise Mr Jimmy Lai's case at the highest levels with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities and have consistently requested consular access which has been denied by the Hong Kong prison authorities. The Foreign Secretary reiterated his call for Mr Lai's release during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference on the 16 February.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 20/03/2024 16:48:01 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon