\u200bThe UK is concerned about reports of the use of child labour in the mining industry in Madagascar. We are committed to eradicating all forms of modern slavery. Under the Modern Slavery Act, all large businesses in the UK with a turnover of £36 million or more are required to publish an annual transparency statement detailing the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery from occurring in their business and supply chains. This enables consumers, investors and campaigners alike to hold businesses to account. The UK regularly raises human rights concerns with the Government of Madagascar. At the 34th Session of the Universal Periodic Review in November 2019, the UK recommended Madagascar strengthen its existing legislation to ensure that all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking are criminalised in line with international conventions and standards; this includes the exploitation of children.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-05T14:53:15.687Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Madagascar: Mining"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of child labour in mica mines in Madagascar; and what steps they are taking to end such practices.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"} ], "uin" : "HL778"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1173357", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1173357/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The British Irish Council supports 11 work sector programmes, the members of whom meet regularly at official and ministerial level. These thematic policy groups include Social Inclusion, Housing and Collaborative Spatial Planning, Digital Inclusion and Misuse of Substances, which each cover aspects of mental health and social care. As part of the agenda for the next main Summit meeting the Council will be provided with an update on the 11 work sector programmes.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-03T17:30:30.173Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Dementia and Mental Illness"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the next meeting of the British\u2013Irish Council discusses (1) mental health, and (2) dementia, medical and social care provision.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4130", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick"} ], "uin" : "HL806"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175304", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175304/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
On 27 January 2020, DCMS published a response to their regulatory consultation on increasing the baseline cyber security of Consumer Internet of Things (IoT) security.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> The regulatory proposals advocated that all consumer IoT devices embed important security requirements. These requirements are set out in the Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security, published by my department in March 2018, and ETSI TS 103 645, the first globally applicable standard for consumer IoT security.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> One of these guidelines would require manufacturers of IoT devices to explicitly state the minimum length of time for which the device will receive security updates, with that information clearly displayed at the point of sale.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> Responses to the consultation showed widespread support for the introduction of such a baseline, as a significant step towards protecting consumers and enabling the IoT sector to grow and flourish. As such, DCMS are seeking to bring forward legislation to mandate these guidelines as soon as parliamentary time allows.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4703", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Barran"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Barran"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-10T11:15:19.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Digital Technology: Sales"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require technology companies selling consumer devices to state at the point of sale how long they will continue to provide software updates which will allow such devices to continue to function.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Birt"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Birt"}
], "uin" : "HL784"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175305", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175305/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We are deeply concerned about the killing of civilians, including women and children, in Idlib, north-west Syria, during the ongoing offensive by the Syrian regime and Russia. We are using our position in the UN Security Council to call on Russia and the regime to respect previously agreed ceasefires in Idlib and their obligations under international humanitarian law. We are also continuing assistance to the White Helmets. We do not consider imposing a no fly-zone over Idlib to be a realistic option.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-04T14:06:53.667Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Syria: Armed Conflict"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) reports by Doctors Under Fire that more than 100 women and children have been killed in Russian and Syrian airstrikes in Idlib since 18 January; and (2) Doctors Under Fire's call for the imposition of a no-fly zone to deter helicopters using barrel bombs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL776"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175306", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175306/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This information is not held centrally.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-05T16:19:54.413Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pregnancy: Carbon Monoxide"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government how many non-smoking pregnant women, who have their carbon monoxide levels routinely monitored, have been found to have raised levels of carbon monoxide.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3609", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Finlay of Llandaff"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Finlay of Llandaff"}
], "uin" : "HL791"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175307", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175307/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The agreement with Amazon to provide medically verified National Health Service information from the NHS website, through its voice assistant Alexa, will help people become more informed about a range of medical conditions, their symptoms, and their potential treatments. Greater access to that information from the NHS will help people manage their own healthcare more effectively, reaching a far greater number of United Kingdom citizens, which could help with prevention and early diagnosis.<\/p> <\/p> Significantly, it will help those who rely on voice-activated technology, such as elderly people or blind and visually impaired people, to access expert, accurate and safe medical information from the NHS.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-06T17:24:56.107Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Amazon"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 21 January (HL127), how they intend to assess (1) how any potential for Alexa to help with \"prevention and early diagnosis\" is being delivered in practice; and (2) whether such an approach is within the broader public interest.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL792"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175308", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175308/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " NHS Resolution handles clinical negligence claims on behalf of National Health Service organisations and independent sector providers of NHS care in England.<\/p> The following table shows settled clinical negligence claims in financial years 2017/18 and 2018/19.<\/p> Financial Year<\/p><\/td> Settlement Type<\/p><\/td> Number of claims settled with damages<\/p><\/td> Number of claims settled with no damages<\/p><\/td> % damages<\/p><\/td> % No damages<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18<\/p><\/td> No proceedings<\/p><\/td> 3,932<\/p><\/td> 4,119<\/p><\/td> 3,932 (33.1%)<\/p><\/td> 4,119 (34.6%)<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19<\/p><\/td> No proceedings<\/p><\/td> 4,015<\/p><\/td> 3,858<\/p><\/td> 4,015 (35.2%)<\/p><\/td> 3,858 (33.8%)<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18<\/p><\/td> Proceedings<\/p><\/td> 2,989<\/p><\/td> 780<\/p><\/td> 2,989 (25.1%)<\/p><\/td> 780 (6.6%)<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19<\/p><\/td> Proceedings<\/p><\/td> 2,872<\/p><\/td> 615<\/p><\/td> 2,872 (25.2%)<\/p><\/td> 615 (5.4%)<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017/18<\/p><\/td> Trial<\/p><\/td> 28<\/p><\/td> 48<\/p><\/td> 28 (0.2%)<\/p><\/td> 48 (0.4%)<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018/19<\/p><\/td> Trial<\/p><\/td> 22<\/p><\/td> 35<\/p><\/td> 22 (0.2%)<\/p><\/td> 35 (0.3%)<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Note: <\/em><\/p> The percentage figures in the table may not add to exactly 100% due to rounding.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-06T11:25:47.357Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Negligence"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 22 January (HL258), whether they can provide the information set out in Figure 3 on page 37 of the NHS Resolution Annual report and accounts 2018/19, published on 11 July 2019, in respect of clinical negligence cases only.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL793"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175309", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175309/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The majority of medicines are dispensed in England every day without issue, with over two million prescription items dispensed each day. However, the production of medicines is complex and highly regulated, and materials and processes must meet rigorous safety and quality standards. Supply problems can affect a wide range of drugs and can arise for various reasons, such as manufacturing issues, problems with the raw ingredients and batch failures.<\/p> The Department has well established processes to manage and mitigate supply problems that may arise at any one time and works closely with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England and NHS Improvement and others operating in the supply chain, to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when they do arise.<\/p> Where issues do arise, the Department will use a host of tools which might include working with the MHRA to expedite regulatory procedures, working with manufacturers to manage remaining supplies and expedite the delivery of further stock and commissioning clinical advice on alternative options from specialist clinicians.<\/p> Furthermore, the team routinely works with specialist importer companies to obtain unlicensed products from abroad to help to manage supply issues affecting the National Health Service.<\/p> Occasionally the team will work with wholesalers and suppliers to put demand management processes in place to ensure the equitable distribution of stock throughout the country as this ensures the NHS can continue to access the medicines it requires.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL795"}
, {"_value" : "HL796"}
, {"_value" : "HL797"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-06T17:22:55.593Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Drugs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the extent, and (2) the range, of drug shortages in the NHS.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL794"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175310", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175310/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The majority of medicines are dispensed in England every day without issue, with over two million prescription items dispensed each day. However, the production of medicines is complex and highly regulated, and materials and processes must meet rigorous safety and quality standards. Supply problems can affect a wide range of drugs and can arise for various reasons, such as manufacturing issues, problems with the raw ingredients and batch failures.<\/p> The Department has well established processes to manage and mitigate supply problems that may arise at any one time and works closely with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England and NHS Improvement and others operating in the supply chain, to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when they do arise.<\/p> Where issues do arise, the Department will use a host of tools which might include working with the MHRA to expedite regulatory procedures, working with manufacturers to manage remaining supplies and expedite the delivery of further stock and commissioning clinical advice on alternative options from specialist clinicians.<\/p> Furthermore, the team routinely works with specialist importer companies to obtain unlicensed products from abroad to help to manage supply issues affecting the National Health Service.<\/p> Occasionally the team will work with wholesalers and suppliers to put demand management processes in place to ensure the equitable distribution of stock throughout the country as this ensures the NHS can continue to access the medicines it requires.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL794"}
, {"_value" : "HL796"}
, {"_value" : "HL797"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-06T17:22:55.64Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Drugs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes of drug shortages in the NHS.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"}
], "uin" : "HL795"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175311", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1175311/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The majority of medicines are dispensed in England every day without issue, with over two million prescription items dispensed each day. However, the production of medicines is complex and highly regulated, and materials and processes must meet rigorous safety and quality standards. Supply problems can affect a wide range of drugs and can arise for various reasons, such as manufacturing issues, problems with the raw ingredients and batch failures.<\/p> The Department has well established processes to manage and mitigate supply problems that may arise at any one time and works closely with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England and NHS Improvement and others operating in the supply chain, to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when they do arise.<\/p> Where issues do arise, the Department will use a host of tools which might include working with the MHRA to expedite regulatory procedures, working with manufacturers to manage remaining supplies and expedite the delivery of further stock and commissioning clinical advice on alternative options from specialist clinicians.<\/p> Furthermore, the team routinely works with specialist importer companies to obtain unlicensed products from abroad to help to manage supply issues affecting the National Health Service.<\/p> Occasionally the team will work with wholesalers and suppliers to put demand management processes in place to ensure the equitable distribution of stock throughout the country as this ensures the NHS can continue to access the medicines it requires.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL794"}
, {"_value" : "HL795"}
, {"_value" : "HL797"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-06T17:22:55.71Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS: Drugs"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
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