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1714619

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Tropical Diseases: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that tropical viruses such as West Nile Virus have spread to Europe, what assessment they have made, if any, of the case for screening blood donations for tropical viruses.
	tabling member printed	Lord Oates
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4171
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>United Kingdom blood services test blood donations for West Nile virus (WNV), if it is indicated by the information provided in the individual’s donor safety questionnaire that they have travelled to an area where WNV is circulating. Other tests for malaria, cytomegalovirus, and the parasite trypanosoma cruzi may be conducted if the donor has a history of recent travel to an area where one or more of these conditions is common.</p><p> </p><p>The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) advises the Government on the most appropriate ways to ensure the safety of blood, including screening. The SaBTO Virology Subcommittee is conducting a review into the approach of screening for WNV. A report with their recommendations will be published following completion of the review.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 07/05/2024 16:24:21 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
	tabling member	4549 label Biography information for Lord Oates

1714621

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Tropical Diseases: Disease Control
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what contingency planning, if any, they have conducted to anticipate the spread of tropical virus transmission to the United Kingdom.
	tabling member printed	Lord Oates
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4172
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The outbreak of an emerging infectious disease is a categorised risk, in the 2023 National Risk Register. Working closely with the Department and NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has a programme of work in place to plan and respond to this risk.</p><p>The UKHSA continues to monitor the global epidemiology of infectious diseases, to inform the assessment of risk to the United Kingdom’s population. Routine surveillance is carried out for a range of viral infections that may be acquired overseas. Data on some of these infections is published in the annual Travel-associated infections reports. Information collated from these various sources are routinely reviewed and assessed through the relevant UKHSA Horizon Scanning Group, with appropriate public health actions proposed to mitigate any threats.</p><p>The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory has a small serological study, partnering with NHS Blood and Transplant and at-risk groups, to look for evidence of exposure to Usutu, West Nile, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses. The Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology group study vector distribution, and look for the presence of tropical and other viruses in relevant arthropod species in an ongoing surveillance programme. The Animal and Plant Health Agency has a programme of surveillance in wild birds and mammals. The Department of Health and Social Care, the UKHSA, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a national contingency plan for invasive mosquitoes that may spread vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 07/05/2024 16:18:31 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
	tabling member	4549 label Biography information for Lord Oates

1714625

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop a pathway of care for people with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis who require hospitalisation.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Scott of Needham Market
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, <em>Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management</em>, published in October 2021, outlines the expectations for inpatient care for patients with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), who require hospitalisation.</p><p>The National Health Service commissions services across England that provide support for people living with ME. In October 2023, the British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS published the <em>ME/CFS National Services Survey 2023</em>. This report provides insight into the services being delivered for adults, children, and young people with ME.</p><p>No assessment has been made of the extent of hospital compliance with the NICE guidelines on ME. It is the duty of clinicians to keep themselves appraised of best practice, in particular guidance issued by the NICE. Whilst guidelines are not mandatory, clinicians and commissioners are expected to take them fully into account when designing services that meet the needs of their local population. The NICE promotes its guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media.</p><p>The Department is working with NHS England to develop an e-learning course on ME for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care, and improve patient outcomes. The Medical Schools Council will promote the NHS England e-learning package on ME to all United Kingdom medical schools, and encourage those schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME.</p><p>Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) is used in the NHS to ensure accurate coding of medical conditions, including ME, in both primary and secondary care records. Within SNOMED CT, all content for ME is contained within a single overarching code, with linked codes for mild, moderate, and severe forms. These can be used by all NHS healthcare providers, including general practitioners. It is estimated that there are over 250,000 people in England and Wales with ME.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham grouped question UIN HL4177 HL4178 question first answered 07/05/2024 12:33:39 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
	tabling member	2542 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Needham Market

1714627

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Medical Records
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure accurate coding of a diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis on both primary and secondary care records.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Scott of Needham Market
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, <em>Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management</em>, published in October 2021, outlines the expectations for inpatient care for patients with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), who require hospitalisation.</p><p>The National Health Service commissions services across England that provide support for people living with ME. In October 2023, the British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS published the <em>ME/CFS National Services Survey 2023</em>. This report provides insight into the services being delivered for adults, children, and young people with ME.</p><p>No assessment has been made of the extent of hospital compliance with the NICE guidelines on ME. It is the duty of clinicians to keep themselves appraised of best practice, in particular guidance issued by the NICE. Whilst guidelines are not mandatory, clinicians and commissioners are expected to take them fully into account when designing services that meet the needs of their local population. The NICE promotes its guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media.</p><p>The Department is working with NHS England to develop an e-learning course on ME for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care, and improve patient outcomes. The Medical Schools Council will promote the NHS England e-learning package on ME to all United Kingdom medical schools, and encourage those schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME.</p><p>Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) is used in the NHS to ensure accurate coding of medical conditions, including ME, in both primary and secondary care records. Within SNOMED CT, all content for ME is contained within a single overarching code, with linked codes for mild, moderate, and severe forms. These can be used by all NHS healthcare providers, including general practitioners. It is estimated that there are over 250,000 people in England and Wales with ME.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham grouped question UIN HL4176 HL4178 question first answered 07/05/2024 12:33:39 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
	tabling member	2542 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Needham Market

1714628

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Hospitals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of hospital compliance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for the treatment of inpatients with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Scott of Needham Market
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, <em>Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management</em>, published in October 2021, outlines the expectations for inpatient care for patients with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), who require hospitalisation.</p><p>The National Health Service commissions services across England that provide support for people living with ME. In October 2023, the British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS published the <em>ME/CFS National Services Survey 2023</em>. This report provides insight into the services being delivered for adults, children, and young people with ME.</p><p>No assessment has been made of the extent of hospital compliance with the NICE guidelines on ME. It is the duty of clinicians to keep themselves appraised of best practice, in particular guidance issued by the NICE. Whilst guidelines are not mandatory, clinicians and commissioners are expected to take them fully into account when designing services that meet the needs of their local population. The NICE promotes its guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media.</p><p>The Department is working with NHS England to develop an e-learning course on ME for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care, and improve patient outcomes. The Medical Schools Council will promote the NHS England e-learning package on ME to all United Kingdom medical schools, and encourage those schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME.</p><p>Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) is used in the NHS to ensure accurate coding of medical conditions, including ME, in both primary and secondary care records. Within SNOMED CT, all content for ME is contained within a single overarching code, with linked codes for mild, moderate, and severe forms. These can be used by all NHS healthcare providers, including general practitioners. It is estimated that there are over 250,000 people in England and Wales with ME.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham grouped question UIN HL4176 HL4177 question first answered 07/05/2024 12:33:39 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
	tabling member	2542 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Needham Market

1714675

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Non-native Species
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are monitoring the spread of non-native flatworms in the UK, particularly the New Zealand flatworm; what assessment they have made of any recent increases in the numbers of non-native flatworms in the UK; and what steps they are taking (1) to combat the spread of non-native flatworms, and (2) to advise the public.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4160
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>No recent assessment has been made of the numbers of non-native flatworms in the UK. While some data on New Zealand flatworms (<em>Arthurdendyus triangulates</em>) is collected this is not sufficiently systematic to support a full assessment.</p><p> </p><p>We encourage the public to submit sightings with photographs to iRecord (which can be found at irecord.org.uk) such that the species can be accurately identified. The record is then uploaded to the biological records centre and will improve our understanding of the distribution of the species.</p><p> </p><p>We have developed a <a href="https://www.nonnativespecies.org/biosecurity/pathway-action-plans/horticulture-pap-for-great-britain/" target="_blank">Horticulture Pathway Action Plan</a> (PAP) (copy attached) which aims to prevent and manage the risk posed by species such as the New Zealand flatworm using measures such as raising public awareness, minimizing the contamination of goods, commodities, vehicles and equipment by invasive non-native species, and ensuring appropriate border checks. An action within this document specific to flatworms is to establish a task-and-finish group to review existing guidance and develop new guidance on flatworms. We are due to consult on the PAPs later this year, and following the conclusion of that exercise, the actions such as this one in the PAPs will commence.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Invasive Species Week is coming up and will take place from the 20th to 26th May 2024. This is an annual week of awareness raising and events to help prevent the spread, and reduce the harmful impacts, of invasive non-native plants and animals.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 02/05/2024 13:33:21 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon attachment 1 file name HL4160 attachment.pdf title Horticulture Pathway Action Plan
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1714688

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Food: Import Controls
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions, and (2) to ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential food items, when new border import controls are introduced on 30 April.
	tabling member printed	Viscount Waverley
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4185
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>We do not expect food shortages. The resilience and reliability of food supply chains is a key objective of the Government as set out in last year’s Government Food Strategy. In implementing this new control regime for the first time on EU imports, we will carefully monitor the range of potential risks, including those that may impact food supply-chains.</p><p> </p><p>The three-month period from 31 January 2024 has allowed businesses time to familiarise themselves with the new requirements before full implementation on 30 April 2024. We are adopting a carefully calibrated approach to enforcement of the new controls that minimises the risk of disrupting trade flows, with an emphasis on educating and supporting businesses to comply.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 07/05/2024 14:32:31 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	1744 label Biography information for Viscount Waverley

1714692

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Import Controls
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the introduction of import controls on 30 April does not result in significant delays or backlogs at the border.
	tabling member printed	Viscount Waverley
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption at the border.</p><p> </p><p>This will allow the level of goods inspected at the border to be operationally manageable over the introductory stages.</p><p> </p><p>Current check rates applied to rest of world consignments will be maintained, or set to agreed BTOM levels, and will not be impacted by this incremental approach.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 07/05/2024 12:26:34 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	1744 label Biography information for Viscount Waverley

1713986

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2024
	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	Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of new data from the Office for National Statistics showing that alcohol-specific deaths are now 32.8 per cent higher than in 2019 and at an all-time high; and what steps they plan to take to tackle rising alcohol harm.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4093
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government keeps all official health data related to alcohol consumption and alcohol related harms under regular review. The 2021 Public Health England publication, Monitoring alcohol consumption and harm during the COVID-19 pandemic, found that increases in alcohol consumption since the beginning of the pandemic tended to be among people who were already heavy drinkers before this period, which may be a factor in the increase.</p><p> </p><p>The most effective way to prevent alcohol specific deaths, is drinking within the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines, namely under 14 units per week. The Government is supporting people who drink above low-risk levels to reduce their alcohol consumption. As part of the NHS Health Check, questions are asked about alcohol consumption, and appropriate advice given to support people to make healthier choices. Those identified to be drinking at higher-risk levels are referred for liver investigation. The Department is also supporting people with alcohol dependency through the Drug Strategy and NHS Long Term Plan, by facilitating more people in need of treatment into local authority commissioned alcohol treatment services.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 07/05/2024 12:38:31 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
	tabling member	3609 label Biography information for Baroness Finlay of Llandaff

1713988

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2024
	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	Healthy Start Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the eligibility criteria, and (2) the available methods of applying, for people aged under 18 with children who are seeking to apply for the NHS Healthy Start scheme.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Gloucester
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL4095
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The Department keeps the eligibility criteria for the Healthy Start scheme under continuous review. There are no current plans to change eligibility for the scheme. The NHS Business Services Authority also keeps the application methods for the NHS Healthy Start scheme under review, and there are no current plans to change the process for under 18 year olds.</p><p>Those who are under 18 years old, with parental responsibility for at least one child under four years old, and who meet the eligibility criteria for Healthy Start through Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit, can apply online. This is the same process for all who are eligible through these qualifying benefits.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 07/05/2024 16:23:02 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
	tabling member	4540 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Gloucester