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381131

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2015
	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people and households with no access to the internet are able to claim benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2502
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Where a claimant does not have internet access at home, DWP staff may be able to support claimants to find local internet access. Claimants contacting our agents, either via the telephony channel or face to face, will be provided with up to date information on where they can find external organisations that provide free public internet access.</p><p> </p><p>There are also public internet access devices available across the Jobcentre network for those claimants who are unable to find an alternative source of access. Staff will assist claimants in using these devices where necessary.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 18/06/2015 11:34:02 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

381132

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2015
	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support benefit claimants in managing their money on a (a) monthly and (b) fortnightly basis.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2503
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Jobcentres often provide budgeting support and can also signpost people to locally available support services. Within Universal Credit, the Personal Budgeting Support process provides a conversation with all claimants at their initial Interview to gauge their potential support needs – this could include money advice with a mix of online, telephone and face to face support. Alternative Payment Arrangements can be made for the minority of claimants that may struggle to manage monthly payments initially.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 18/06/2015 16:22:54 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

381133

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2015
	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	Universal Credit: Torfaen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out the timetable for the roll-out of universal credit in Torfaen.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p>In February of this year , we began the national roll out of Universal Credit to Jobcentre areas across Great Britain. Universal Credit has been available to new single claimants in Torfaen since April.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 18/06/2015 11:47:16 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

385160

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2015
	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	Housing Benefit: Torfaen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse arising from the under-occupancy penalty in Torfaen constituency in financial year 2014-15.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	3849
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The information requested for those subject to the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy in Torfaen, is not readily available and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/06/2015 13:40:06 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

385168

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2015
	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	Social Security Benefits: Torfaen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of payment of (a) out-of-work and (b) in-work benefits to people in Torfaen constituency in financial year 2014-15.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	3903
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2015 answer text <p>Information on benefit expenditure for 2014/15 at a Parliamentary Constituency level is not currently available. 2014/15 data is planned for publication in September. Data for 2000/01 to 2013/14 is available via the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014</a></p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 29/06/2015 13:32:43 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

385169

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2015
	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	Social Security Benefits: Torfaen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the Government's projected £12 billion reduction in welfare expenditure that will take place in Torfaen constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	3904
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2015 answer text <p>The Government’s commitment to reduce welfare spending was set out in its election manifesto. Further details will be given in due course.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/06/2015 13:44:02 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

385170

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2015
	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	Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people liable to the under-occupancy penalty (a) found alternative accommodation and (b) paid the penalty.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	3906
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The information requested for those subject to the removal of the spare room subsidy for part a) is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested for part (b) is not held.</p><p>However, an analysis of changes to the number of people subject to a reduction in their Housing Benefit award, including those who have downsized, from May to December 2013 was published here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/removal-of-the-spare-room-subsidy-analysis-july-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/removal-of-the-spare-room-subsidy-analysis-july-2014</a></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/06/2015 13:48:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

416691

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	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	Employment and Support Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants with (a) Parkinson's disease, (b) rheumatoid arthritis, (c) motor neurone disease, (d) multiple sclerosis and (e) cystic fibrosis have been (i) placed in the support group, (ii) placed in the work-related activity group and (iii) found fit for work since 2008; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	8972
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Outcomes of initial and repeat Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) functional assessments and Incapacity Benefits Reassessments (IBR) by disease code: October 2008 – September 2014</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Cystic Fibrosis</p></td><td><p>Spinal Muscular Atrophy</p></td><td><p>Parkinson’s Disease</p></td><td><p>Multiple Sclerosis</p></td><td><p>Other Rheumatoid Arthritis</p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3"><p>Initial claim</p></td><td><p>SG</p></td><td><p>800</p></td><td><p>1,100</p></td><td><p>1,500</p></td><td><p>6,900</p></td><td><p>3,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WRAG</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>700</p></td><td><p>2,600</p></td><td><p>3,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>FFW</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>500</p></td><td><p>1,700</p></td><td><p>3,800</p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3"><p>Repeat claim</p></td><td><p>SG</p></td><td><p>500</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>1,100</p></td><td><p>7,000</p></td><td><p>4,300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WRAG</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>500</p></td><td><p>2,200</p></td><td><p>3,900</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>FFW</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>1,100</p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3"><p>IBR claim</p></td><td><p>SG</p></td><td><p>600</p></td><td><p>200</p></td><td><p>1,200</p></td><td><p>15,000</p></td><td><p>5,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WRAG</p></td><td><p>100</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>2,600</p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>FFW</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>1,100</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. “-“denotes nil or under 50.</p><p>2. SG – Support Group</p><p>WRAG – Work Related Activity Group</p><p>FFW – Fit For Work</p><p>3. The outcome recorded is the final DWP Decision Maker’s decision or the recommendation made by the Atos Healthcare Professional where the Decision Maker’s decision is not yet available.</p><p>4. Motor neurone disease is shown in the table as 'Spinal muscular atrophy'.</p><p>5. The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions. In October 2008, ESA replaced IB for new claims. Starting with a trial in October 2010, and reaching a full scale national roll-out in April 2011, existing IB claims began to be phased out, with claimants reassessed to see if they qualify for ESA instead.</p><p>6. The reassessment of existing incapacity benefits claimants was rolled out nationally from April 2011.</p> answering member constituency Witham answering member printed Priti Patel question first answered 09/09/2015 14:19:09 answering member 4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

429161

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2015
	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	State Retirement Pensions: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his oral contribution of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 52, on state pensions for women, what meetings he has had on the transitional arrangements referred to (a) between 20 June 2011 and 7 May 2015 and (b) since 8 May 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	16900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2015 answer text <p>Ministers discussed and considered transitional arrangements during the passage on the Pensions Bill 2011.</p><p>The Government carried out extensive analysis of the impacts of bringing forward the rise to age 66 when legislating for the change in State Pension age. A final Impact Assessment was published in November 2011 following Royal Assent the Pensions Act 2011.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181461/pensions-bill-2011-summary-of-impacts.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181461/pensions-bill-2011-summary-of-impacts.pdf</a></p><p>The Impact Assessment includes analysis of the decision to amend the timetable originally set out in the bill so as to cap the maximum increase at 18 months rather than 2 years. This concession benefited almost a quarter of a million women, who would otherwise have experienced delays of up to two years. A similar number of men also benefited from a reduced increase, and the concession was worth around £1 billion in total.</p><p>The Government will not be revisiting the State Pension age arrangements for women affected by the 2011 Act.</p><br /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 16901 question first answered 23/11/2015 15:51:17 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

385741

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Employment Tribunals Service
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many contested employment tribunal cases there were in England and Wales in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	4234
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2015 answer text <p>The number of contested employment tribunal claims nationally is published by the Ministry of Justice as Official Statistics (quarterly and annually) on the GOV.UK website.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent statistical publication (covering the period up to the end of March 2015) is available here:</p><p> </p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2015</p> answering member constituency North West Cambridgeshire answering member printed Mr Shailesh Vara question first answered 30/06/2015 16:34:42 answering member 1496 label Biography information for Shailesh Vara
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

387102

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Family Law
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many family law cases have cited the Human Rights Act 1998 since that Act came into effect.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	5148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Applications to the Family Court are made and recorded by reference to the relevant provision in family law. Details of how many family law cases specifically cited the Human Rights Act 1998 since it came into force could only be obtained by manually checking every case file at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 06/07/2015 11:07:53 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

385559

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2015
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Police: Torfaen
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many serving police officers there were in Torfaen constituency on (a) 6 May 2010 and (b) 7 May 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	4079
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold the requested data centrally. The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the police workforce at police force area level, but not at parliamentary constituency level.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 30/06/2015 15:51:25 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

386177

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Pancreatic Cancer: Mortality Rates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what comparative assessment he has made of variation in the survival rates of pancreatic cancer patients living in (a) the UK, (b) Europe and (c) the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	4529
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2015 answer text <p>There are some variations in survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients between different countries and different parts of the United Kingdom. We have looked at the international comparisons from EUROCARE 5 – the study of survival and care of cancer patients based on European Cancer Registries - but it can be difficult to interpret survival comparisons for cancers with poor prognosis. Although this only covers patients diagnosed up to 2007, the key issue is that survival rates for pancreatic cancer remain poor – and a challenge to be tackled – across the world.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We await the final report of the independent Cancer Taskforce, which will make recommendations across the whole cancer care pathway.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison grouped question UIN 4532 question first answered 02/07/2015 12:07:41 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

386178

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Pancreatic Cancer: Research
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Health Ministers in the devolved administrations on increasing research into pancreatic cancer across the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	4530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2015 answer text <p>My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has had no such discussions.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Expenditure by the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on cancer research is shown in the following table.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>£ million</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>2013/14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>100.9</p></td><td><p>104.1</p></td><td><p>133.2</p></td><td><p>129.9</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A figure for 2014/15 is not yet available. Data is not available for total NIHR research spend on specific cancer sites as site-specific data cannot be disaggregated from total expenditure through NIHR research infrastructure funding streams.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including pancreatic cancer. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The NIHR has recently awarded £290,986 to University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for a phase II trial of endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of cystic tumours of the pancreas.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The NIHR Research Design Service is available to help prospective applicants, including applicants in pancreatic cancer research, develop and design high-quality proposals for submission to NIHR itself and also to other national, peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research. The service provides expert advice to researchers on all aspects of preparing grant applications in these fields, including advice on research methodology, clinical trials, patient involvement, and ethics and governance.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 4524 4525 question first answered 02/07/2015 12:13:02 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

416690

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Drugs: Licensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to act upon the outcomes of the stakeholder roundtable discussion it convened on 11 February 2015 on access to off-patent drugs.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	8971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2015 answer text <p>The Department convened a roundtable event on 11 February 2015 to discuss what action, could most expeditiously be taken to ensure that robust evidence about new uses for existing drugs is produced, disseminated and then used to inform clinical decision making about these medicines.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A number of areas were identified where further work could help improve matters, including:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- supporting clinicians to identify the latest robust evidence on patient care and take it up in their own practice; and</p><p> </p><p>- supporting and mapping clear pathways for innovators and those who want to &quot;re-purpose&quot; drugs.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Officials have since been engaging with stakeholders to progress outputs associated with this event.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 8970 8974 question first answered 09/09/2015 16:26:29 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

416692

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Drugs: Licensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with which organisations and individuals (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have discussed the availability of repurposed off-patent drugs on the NHS since 12 February 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	8973
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2015 answer text <p>Following the 11 February 2015 Roundtable Event on <em>‘Translating Evidence in to Clinical Practice’</em>, officials are continuing to work with key stakeholders including charities, health professional networks, the General Medical Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Medicines &amp; Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Officials have since been engaging with stakeholders to progress outputs associated with this event.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 09/09/2015 16:00:15 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

416693

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Drugs: Licensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in implementing non-legislative measures to provide routine access on the NHS to off-patent drugs that have been proven to be clinically effective for new indications.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	8974
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2015 answer text <p>The Department convened a roundtable event on 11 February 2015 to discuss what action, could most expeditiously be taken to ensure that robust evidence about new uses for existing drugs is produced, disseminated and then used to inform clinical decision making about these medicines.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A number of areas were identified where further work could help improve matters, including:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- supporting clinicians to identify the latest robust evidence on patient care and take it up in their own practice; and</p><p> </p><p>- supporting and mapping clear pathways for innovators and those who want to &quot;re-purpose&quot; drugs.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Officials have since been engaging with stakeholders to progress outputs associated with this event.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 8970 8971 question first answered 09/09/2015 16:26:29 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

416694

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Drugs: Licensing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the outcome was of the stakeholder roundtable discussion on off-patent drugs convened by his Department on 11 February 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	8970
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2015 answer text <p>The Department convened a roundtable event on 11 February 2015 to discuss what action, could most expeditiously be taken to ensure that robust evidence about new uses for existing drugs is produced, disseminated and then used to inform clinical decision making about these medicines.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A number of areas were identified where further work could help improve matters, including:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- supporting clinicians to identify the latest robust evidence on patient care and take it up in their own practice; and</p><p> </p><p>- supporting and mapping clear pathways for innovators and those who want to &quot;re-purpose&quot; drugs.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Officials have since been engaging with stakeholders to progress outputs associated with this event.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman grouped question UIN 8971 8974 question first answered 09/09/2015 16:26:29 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

416695

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
	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 raise awareness of support groups to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	8894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p>Raising awareness of support groups to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is not a part of our public awareness campaign on breathlessness, however, we do signpost to the British Lung Foundation and the British Heart Foundation on our website.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 14/09/2015 15:08:52 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

416696

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
	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 public awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	8895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2015 answer text <p>Public Health England has developed a campaign to raise awareness of the symptom of breathlessness which ran as a local pilot in Oldham and Rochdale from 24 February – 23 March 2014 and as a regional pilot in the East of England 2 February – 1 March 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Breathlessness campaign aims to encourage those with inappropriate breathlessness (breathlessness that is disproportionate to the level of activity undertaken i.e. at rest or on minimal exertion) to go and see their general practitioner (GP). It is primarily aimed at earlier diagnosis of heart and lung disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with scope to reduce premature mortality and to improve the quality of life of those living with these conditions. The key message of the campaign is “If you get out of breath doing things that you used to be able to do, see your GP. Getting out of breath could be a sign of heart or lung disease. Finding it early makes it more treatable, so don’t ignore it, tell your doctor”.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Evaluation of the regional pilot is still underway, although early findings from follow-up in-depth interviews with a sample of local GPs and pharmacists and pre and post awareness tracking research among the public, are positive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 14/09/2015 16:18:06 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

428798

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Drugs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Care Quality during Oral Questions on 17 November 2015 on the establishment of a working party to examine issues regarding the availability of off-patent, repurposed drugs, when the working party was established; what the working party's scope and terms of reference are; which organisations and individuals have been invited to join the working party; and when the next meeting of the working party will be convened.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	16729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government has not established a working party in relation to the Off-Patent Drugs Bill. We did hold a roundtable event in February 2015 with key stakeholders including charities and agreed several follow up actions. We have now agreed additional further actions:</p><p>- arrange a further roundtable event specifically for those charities who would like to explore the Bill in more detail;</p><p>- input in to the work of the Off-Patent Drugs Bill All Party Parliamentary Group; and</p><p>- hold a Ministerial drop-in session on 30 November, for those who would like to discuss the Bill further. This will be hosted by myself.</p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 20/11/2015 14:51:05 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

381452

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2015
	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	Bees: Pesticides
	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 the Government is taking to protect bees from the effects of toxic pesticides.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	2614
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issue authorisations which enable pesticides to be advertised, sold, supplied, stored and used. Following a thorough risk assessment, HSE imposes conditions on the way products are used to ensure there is no harm to human health or unacceptable effects on the environment. The assessment considers risks to bees.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 22/06/2015 12:41:54 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds

386160

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on sea levels of a two-degree increase in global temperatures.
	tabling member constituency	Torfaen
	tabling member printed	Nick Thomas-Symonds
	uin	4531
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2015 answer text <p>Sea level will rise in response to the expansion of the warming oceans and from melting land ice. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 5th Assessment Report notes that for a climate change scenario consistent with remaining below 2°C, global mean sea level rise is likely to be between 0.26 to 0.55 m for the period 2081–2100, compared to 1986–2005. The top of this range could be higher should the marine-based ice sheets in Antarctica collapse, increasing by up to several tenths of a metre. Sea level rise will continue beyond the 21<sup>st</sup> century in this scenario even though global temperatures stabilise, with at least a further 0.5 m expected by 2500.</p><p>The future contribution from ice sheets remains very uncertain. There is a risk their melting could result in considerable sea level rise in the longer term.</p><p>The UK government is funding research into future sea level rise and its impacts through the DECC and Defra co-funded Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme, and through the DECC funded AVOID programme.</p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 03/07/2015 13:30:29 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom previous answer version 10894 answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	4479 label Biography information for Nick Thomas-Symonds