Baroness Gardner of Parkes Portrait

Baroness Gardner of Parkes

Conservative - Life peer

Became Member: 19th June 1981

Left House: 14th April 2024 (Death)


Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee
9th Jun 2010 - 27th Nov 2013
Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee
11th Dec 2008 - 12th Nov 2009
Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee
8th Jun 2006 - 30th Oct 2007
Information Committee (Lords)
25th Nov 2002 - 7th May 2005


Division Voting information

Baroness Gardner of Parkes has voted in 990 divisions, and 31 times against the majority of their Party.

7 Dec 2020 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 6 Conservative Aye votes vs 188 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 221
7 Dec 2020 - Trade Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 16 Conservative Aye votes vs 143 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 287 Noes - 161
25 Nov 2020 - United Kingdom Internal Market Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 3 Conservative Aye votes vs 204 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 241
20 Oct 2020 - United Kingdom Internal Market Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 39 Conservative Aye votes vs 158 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 395 Noes - 169
28 Sep 2020 - Coronavirus Act 2020: Temporary Provisions - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 24 Conservative Aye votes vs 166 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 99 Noes - 198
15 Jun 2020 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 43 Conservative Aye votes vs 125 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 112 Noes - 388
6 Sep 2019 - European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 25 Conservative No votes vs 36 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 47 Noes - 268
15 Mar 2019 - House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 8 Conservative Aye votes vs 20 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 87 Noes - 23
15 Nov 2018 - Privileges and Conduct - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 24 Conservative Aye votes vs 36 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 101 Noes - 78
20 Apr 2016 - Housing and Planning Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 122 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 36 Noes - 129
29 Feb 2016 - Scotland Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Conservative Aye votes vs 103 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 29 Noes - 145
20 Jul 2015 - Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 153 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 257 Noes - 174
4 Mar 2015 - Deregulation Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 120 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 145 Noes - 182
4 Mar 2015 - Deregulation Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Conservative Aye votes vs 100 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 87 Noes - 145
26 Nov 2014 - Consumer Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Conservative Aye votes vs 84 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 124
24 Nov 2014 - Consumer Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Conservative Aye votes vs 99 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 113 Noes - 156
28 Jan 2014 - Children and Families Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Conservative Aye votes vs 100 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 153
8 Jan 2014 - Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 25 Conservative Aye votes vs 116 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 306 Noes - 178
10 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 37 Conservative Aye votes vs 47 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 89 Noes - 267
8 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 50 Conservative Aye votes vs 63 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 119 Noes - 314
8 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 50 Conservative Aye votes vs 50 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 103 Noes - 278
4 Jun 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 65 Conservative Aye votes vs 79 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 148 Noes - 390
6 Mar 2013 - Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Conservative Aye votes vs 136 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 211 Noes - 206
25 Jan 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 34 Conservative Aye votes vs 96 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 270 Noes - 128
16 Feb 2011 - Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 27 Conservative Aye votes vs 118 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 215
19 Jan 2011 - Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 28 Conservative Aye votes vs 74 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 196 Noes - 122
6 May 2009 - Health Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Conservative Aye votes vs 27 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 86 Noes - 134
29 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 19 Conservative Aye votes vs 21 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 39 Noes - 202
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 36 Conservative Aye votes vs 156 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 93 Noes - 418
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Conservative Aye votes vs 151 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 63 Noes - 401
28 Apr 2021 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 - View Vote Context
Baroness Gardner of Parkes voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 34 Conservative Aye votes vs 144 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 70 Noes - 409
View All Baroness Gardner of Parkes Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Earl Howe (Conservative)
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
(155 debate interactions)
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative)
Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
(47 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(184 debate contributions)
Wales Office
(77 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(70 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(46 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017
(3,806 words contributed)
Tenant Fees Act 2019
(2,227 words contributed)
Domestic Abuse Bill 2019-21
(1,019 words contributed)
Finance Act 2020
(969 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Baroness Gardner of Parkes's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Baroness Gardner of Parkes, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Baroness Gardner of Parkes has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Baroness Gardner of Parkes has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
2 Other Department Questions
15th Jun 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 11 June (HL Deb, col 886), how they plan to ensure that people on zero hours contracts are aware that they can no longer be bound by an exclusivity clause; whether clear notification of this change will be sent to all relevant employers and employment agencies; and whether this law will override any existing contract which until 26 May included both zero-hours and exclusivity terms.

Changes to employment law are publicised in the same way to ensure employers and individuals know how to access the information. This includes guidance on .GOV.UK, and via relevant organisations, including representative and advisory bodies such as Acas, who have mechanisms to ensure the information reaches the right people.

The ban applies to all those with an existing exclusivity clause in their zero hours contract.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)
13th Mar 2015
To ask the Leader of the House what guidance she issues to Departments in respect of their providing full answers to questions for written answer, particularly when failure to answer has been followed up.

As Leader of the House, I have a particular responsibility to encourage departments to be punctual in answering written questions, but the content of each answer is a matter for the minister concerned. All Ministers are accountable to the House for those answers. That direct accountability is important: that is why Ministers in this House must provide personally signed answers to members.

To inform Ministers in answering questions put to them, the Ministerial Code says that “It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament”. It also makes clear that “Ministers should be as open as possible with Parliament and the public, refusing to provide information only when disclosure would not be in the public interest”. In addition, the longstanding rules of this House on Questions for Written Answer (rules that the House reaffirmed in agreeing to the Procedure Committee’s 5th Report of the 2014-15 Session) set out that all answers should be complete and comprehensible.

If any member has particular concerns about a response that they have received that they consider does not adhere to these rules, I would encourage them to raise it with me directly.

12th Jan 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the regulations in relation to Clause 33 of the Deregulation Bill will be available in print; and whether this will be before consideration of the relevant clauses at Report Stage of the Bill.

The Government’s draft regulations which set out the detail of reforms to legislation on short-term letting in London will be brought forward following Royal Assent of the Deregulation Bill. The Government intends to write to all Peers shortly with a detailed policy position, to inform the debate on Clause 33 at Lords Report Stage.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
16th Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 11 April 2019 (HL15230), how many agencies employing careworkers are paying the costs of such workers for their travel between clients; and what steps they take to ensure that care agencies pay staff appropriate renumeration for any time spent travelling between appointments.

The law is clear that for care workers, and other workers, time spent travelling between assignments counts as time worked for National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage (NMW) purposes. Furthermore, the Government issued statutory guidance supporting the implementation of the Care Act which specifies; “Remuneration must be at least sufficient to comply with the NMW legislation for hourly pay or equivalent salary. This will include appropriate remuneration for any time spent travelling between appointments.”

The Government has more than doubled the NMW compliance and enforcement budget to £27.4 million for 2019/20, up from £13.2 million in 2015/16. HMRC utilise those resources to follow up on every worker complaint received and to undertake proactive investigations. Last year (2018/19), HMRC identified over £6 million in minimum wage arrears within the Human Health and Social Work sector, owed to over 27,000 workers. This includes, but is not limited to, arrears relating to travel time.

Workers can call the ACAS helpline for free, confidential advice about their rights and entitlements. If they want to make a complaint through HMRC, they can do so in complete confidence, either via ACAS or using the online complaints form on GOV.UK. HMRC will protect their anonymity throughout the investigation.

11th Apr 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to check whether agencies employing careworkers are paying the costs of such workers for their travel between clients.

Time spent travelling from one client to another counts as time worked for minimum wage purposes, and the Government is clear that everyone entitled to the National Minimum and Living Wage (NMW) should receive it. Since 2015, the Government has almost doubled the budget for enforcing the NMW to £26.3 million, a record high.

Anyone who feels they are not receiving the NMW should contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), who provide free, impartial information and advice on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. Where appropriate, Acas can pass on complaints to HMRC for enforcement; HMRC follow up on all complaints received from workers about possible NMW underpayment.

1st Mar 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the proposal by the Mayor of London to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy that a new public register of foreign ownership of properties be established, to combat their use for tax evasion, theft and terrorist activities.

The dataset containing title records of properties in England and Wales registered to companies incorporated outside the UK is already available to the public. The government made HM Land Registry’s Overseas Companies Ownership Data available for free for the first time on 7 November 2017.

The Government is committed to establish the new public register of beneficial ownership of overseas entities that own property in the UK and recently issued a written ministerial statement to confirm the timetable for implementation (HLWS417).

This register will be the first of its kind in the world. We need to make sure the new requirements are workable, proportionate and that the register strikes the right balance between improving transparency and minimising burdens on legitimate commercial activity.

6th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to give boarding schools greater autonomy to decide how to operate from September 2020.

The Department has published guidance to support all schools as they prepare for the return of all pupils from the beginning of the autumn term: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

The guidance provides schools with advice about how to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in schools. It also sets out how the department expects schools to operate, and where there is flexibility. For boarding schools the guidance encourages schools to keep children in their class groups, but also allows for the mixing of pupils in different groups residentially and during the school day.

Boarding schools will still need to meet the national minimum standards to safeguard and protect the children in their care and those that are independent schools will need to comply with the independent school standards.

14th Dec 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 25 September (HL10355), what assessment they have made of the extent to which local authorities are using their powers under section 45(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to charge those who offer short-term holiday lets for additional waste collection.

Waste arising from short-term holiday lets has not been discussed as a specific issue with local authorities regarding their powers under section 45(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We have not had direct representation from local authorities or any concerns raised by them regarding waste from short-term holiday lets and execution of their power under s45 (4). We consider the powers which allow local authorities to charge for waste collection from commercial properties, including short-term holiday lets, are clear and appropriate for dealing with waste from such businesses.

14th Dec 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 25 September (HL10355), what discussions they have had with local authorities about whether the powers under section 45(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are appropriate to address problems of additional waste being generated by properties being offered as short-term holiday lets.

Waste arising from short-term holiday lets has not been discussed as a specific issue with local authorities regarding their powers under section 45(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We have not had direct representation from local authorities or any concerns raised by them regarding waste from short-term holiday lets and execution of their power under s45 (4). We consider the powers which allow local authorities to charge for waste collection from commercial properties, including short-term holiday lets, are clear and appropriate for dealing with waste from such businesses.

13th Sep 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether local authorities require any additional support or powers to address any increases in the amount and frequency of waste to be disposed of as a result of short-term holiday lets.

Waste arising from short-term holiday lets is regarded as commercial waste and in accordance with Section 45(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 local authorities are able to levy a charge for its collection. The Government has therefore not made an assessment of whether local authorities require additional support or powers to address any increases in the amount and frequency of waste to be disposed of as a result of short-term holiday lets.

13th Sep 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of short-term holidays lets on the capacity of local authorities to provide sufficient domestic and business rubbish collections.

Waste arising from short-term holiday lets is regarded as commercial waste and in accordance with Section 45(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 local authorities are able to levy a charge for its collection. The Government has therefore not made an assessment of whether local authorities require additional support or powers to address any increases in the amount and frequency of waste to be disposed of as a result of short-term holiday lets.

1st Nov 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review Regulation 51 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to require all wheeled goods vehicles to be fitted with basic safety equipment, including sideguards, to protect cyclists in the event of collisions.

Most heavy goods vehicles are already required to be fitted with sideguards when new. Work is already underway to amend the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to ensure that sideguards are retained and maintained on these vehicles.

The Government is also supporting new technical measures under the European Commission’s Third Mobility Package to improve further the protection of pedestrians and cyclists.

1st Nov 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of collisions between cyclists and wheeled goods vehicles occurred in each of the last three years; and how many cyclists survived those collisions in each year.

The Department collects data on personal injury road accidents reported to the police. The table below shows the number of reported road accidents involving at least one pedal cyclist and at least one goods vehicle in Great Britain for the last three years of available data, as well as cyclist casualties by severity resulting from these accidents.

Number of pedal cyclist casualties involved

Year

Number of accidents involving at least one pedal cyclist and at least one goods vehicle1

Killed

Serious

Slight

Total

2015

1,770

27

350

1,392

1,769

2016

1,574

23

300

1,257

1,580

2017

1,467

25

334

1,104

1,463

1 Van, LGV or HGV

Source: DfT Stats19

On 18 October the Department published a summary of the 14,000 responses received to its Call for Evidence on cycling and walking safety, including issues relating to large vehicles. The Department has recently announced a number of activities to improve the safety, and perception of safety, of cycling and walking: tailored cycle training for driving instructors, support for police in tackling unsafe “close passing”, an update to the National Standard for Cycle Training and, most recently, a review of the Highway Code to include overtaking and opening vehicle doors. The Department will publish its full response to the Call for Evidence in due course.

30th Oct 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of (1) road traffic accidents involving cyclists and HGVs, and (2) deaths resulting from such accidents.

The Department agrees that accidents involving cyclists and HGVs are an issue of great concern and our aim is to reduce the number of deaths that result from them. Responses to the recent Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) Safety Review Call for Evidence highlighted these concerns and we will be publishing a full response to the consultation shortly, which will seek to address the issue.

Details of the Call for Evidence and the Summary of Responses are available to view on the Department’s website.

18th Jul 2017
Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to provide for segregated cycle lanes to be made accessible to (1) mobility scooters, and (2) tricycles.

Provision of cycling infrastructure, including segregated cycle lanes, is the responsibility of local traffic authorities. It is for them to decide whether or not to permit mobility scooters to use such lanes.

Tricycles are already able to use cycle lanes. The definition of a pedal cycle is given in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 as ‘a unicycle, bicycle, tricycle or cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case mechanically propelled.

Lord Callanan
Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to remove the exemption for skip lorries and concrete mixing lorries from the requirement to be fitted with a safety bar, and, if so when; and what assessment they have made of the efforts made by Cemex in that area.

The Department for Transport will be consulting in the autumn to change the rules for side guards to be fitted to tippers, refuse vehicles and car transporters that were registered from 1 January 2010.  Side guards will be required to be fitted to the majority of new vehicles from 29 October 2014.

There has been no specific assessment of the measures implemented by Cemex but the Government welcomes the initiatives taken by a number of companies to voluntarily fit additional safety equipment to protect pedestrian and vulnerable road users.

Baroness Kramer
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
13th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the maximum payment that can currently be made under the Funeral Payment scheme.

The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme comprises of two elements. The first element covers the ‘necessary’ costs of arranging a funeral, which include costs of a burial or cremation including the purchase of a grave. It also meets the cost of any medical references or the removal of active implanted medical devices for cremations, reasonable costs if a body has to be moved for more than fifty miles and travel costs for the applicant to arrange and attend the funeral. These costs are paid in full and there is no maximum contribution.

The second element covers all other costs, which are subject to a maximum of £700. We have no plans at this time to review this component of the scheme.

12th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what level of protection one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provides against COVID-19; and what plans they have to publish the evidence base that informs their data on the effectiveness of one such dose.

Since the beginning of the vaccination programme, Public Health England (PHE) has been monitoring the effectiveness of the vaccines in the real world. PHE’s first analysis of the early effects of COVID-19 vaccination in England, using routine testing and vaccination data, was published on 1 March. The data shows effectiveness of a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against symptomatic COVID-19 reaches approximately 60% in those aged 70 and over in the general population, reaching 85% to 90% after two doses in those aged 80 years and over. The data also shows a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine is 80% and 95% effective at reducing hospitalisation and mortality from COVID-19, respectively, in those aged 70 and over. PHE’s latest vaccine effectiveness report can be found attached entitled, ‘Public Health England vaccine effectiveness report March 2021’

12th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the amount of time between the administration of the first and the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine does not exceed six weeks.

Since December 2020, the Government’s policy has been to offer people their second vaccine dose up to 12 weeks after their first dose. The decision to update the dosing interval will give as many people at the highest risk their first dose as soon as possible and it is in line with the conditions of authorisation from Medicines and Healthcare and Regulatory Authority for the vaccine.

This approach is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and four UK Chief Medical Officers and is designed to save lives. Analysis carried out by Public Health England suggests that the COVID-19 vaccination programme prevented 6,100 deaths in England up to the end of February 2021.

The Government is in constant contact with the vaccine manufacturers and remains confident that the supply of vaccine to the UK will not be disrupted, and will enable everyone to receive their second dose within 12 weeks of their first.

16th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to pre-book COVID-19 tests for all university students to take before they return to university after the Christmas break.

The Government has established a large number of asymptomatic test sites across higher education institutions. We are working to make the return to higher education as safe as possible. All students will have the opportunity to be tested on their return to university at the start of the spring term. The Government has provided guidance for universities to implement a staggered return of students over five weeks to minimise the transmission risk from the mass movement of students. Further guidance will be provided in due course, considering future developments and the relevant scientific advice.

29th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the availability of National Health Service dental treatment for patients of all ages.

National Health Service dental practices were able to restart face-to-face care from 8 June, with the aim of increasing levels of service for all patients, as fast as is safely possible, taking into account Public Health England guidance and continued infection risks.

Urgent dental care centres remain open to support the provision of urgent and emergency face-to-face care for dental patients and patients will be referred to urgent dental care centres, where needed locally.

20th Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 6 August 2019 (HL17643), how much new funding they provided in 2019 for new measures to prevent the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Public Health England has not received any new funding for the prevention of transmission of the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

24th Jul 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 9 July (HL16592), what is their view of the proportion of each of the resulting illness, deaths and costs that could be prevented by new efforts to prevent transmission; and what are the costs of new measures introduced in 2019 to prevent transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Public Health England (PHE) has prioritised collecting the necessary data across the National Health Service to enable estimation and monitoring of the proportion of cases, deaths and costs attributable to carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

In May 2015 PHE implemented an enhanced surveillance system of all carbapenemase-producing Gram negative bacteria, which was modified in 2019 to maximise efficiency. The health burden of cases, estimated from these data, will be published in the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation Report in November 2019.

The few published reports of outbreaks have estimated costs of at least £1 million, and up to £5 million, all indicating multi-model control measures are required, as outlined in the PHE toolkit for prevention and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae which is currently being updated.

Using national surveillance and patient administration data to develop mathematical models, work is ongoing to estimate the reduction in levels of illness and death when specified detection and control measures are applied by 2020. Developed models will enable associated costs incurred to be estimated and the cost-effectiveness of control measures to be established by 2021.

26th Jun 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 4 June (HL15832), what assessment they have made of (1) the future costs to the NHS as a result of the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, (2) the costs of new measures introduced in 2019 specifically to prevent the transmission of such Enterobacteriaceae, and (3) the views of infection control nurses on investment to prevent the transmission of such Enterobacteriaceae.

Public Health England (PHE) has predicted future spread and the health and cost impact to the National Health Service of the Enterobacteriaceae Escherichia coli and a national outbreak of a highly-resistant organism, reflecting carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The models used in this assessment are published in the paper A Risk Assessment of Antibiotic Pan-Drug-Resistance in the UK: Bayesian Analysis of an Expert Elicitation Study. A copy of the paper is attached.

Such predictions are highly uncertain. There remain unknowns regarding transmission, efficacy of interventions and the additional hospital stay for infected patients (constituting a large part of the cost to the NHS).

PHE has worked with NHS colleagues, estimating the cost of controlling a carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) outbreak in five London hospitals to be over £1 million. Monitoring costs alongside implementation of PHE’s upcoming update of the CPE toolkit for health and social care is an important component of enabling cost-effectiveness evaluation.

Staff interviewed about the challenges of implementing the existing CPE toolkit highlighted maintaining awareness and training as key challenges, alongside infection prevention resourcing. An analysis of the responses was published in the paper An evaluation of a toolkit for the early detection, management, and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae: a survey of acute hospital trusts in England. A copy is attached.

20th May 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 14 May (HL15384), what assessment they have made of the number of people, with or without resistant blood stream infections, who have Carbapenem resistant E. coli-like bacteria present in their bodies; and what (1) proposed, and (2) current, initiatives there are to control the transmission of such bacteria.

The 2018 English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance report contains information on carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) causing bloodstream infections in England. In 2017 there were 18 cases. The number of people with other infections and carriage of E. coli resistant to carbapenems is harder to ascertain as surveillance is not as uniform.

Public Health England (PHE) publishes guidance on the prevention and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (including E. coli); guidance is available for both acute and non-acute settings, copies of the Toolkit for managing carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in non-acute and community settings and Acute trust toolkit for the early detection, management and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae are attached. PHE is supporting actions outlined in the United Kingdom’s Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan that aim to prevent and control the transmission of carbapenem-resistant bacteria, which includes reducing the number of specific drug-resistant infections in people by 10% by 2025; reducing UK antimicrobial use in humans by 15% by 2024; and adding carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections to the list of notifiable diseases in existing laboratory reporting systems.

29th Apr 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of their 2013–18 antimicrobial resistance strategy at addressing the problem of multi-resistant E. coli-like bacteria; what assessment they have made of recent trends in the number of multi-resistant E. coli-like bacteria in the UK; and what factors inform their view of the balance between efforts to reduce transmission and efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics.

While we can count many successes from our 2013-18 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Strategy, resistance has continued to increase. In the United Kingdom we have seen a 35% increase in resistant blood stream infections in humans from 2013-17.

The number of bloodstream infections (BSIs) is increasing each year. Although the proportion of antibiotic resistant BSIs remain stable year to year, the burden on resistance increases. This is mostly due to increasing prevalence of E.coli bloodstream infections.

Estimates of the multi-resistant cases can be made, however not all the bacteria are tested against the same antibiotics, so a definitive number of cases cannot be given. The Public Health England Fingertips tool also has an indicator showing the rolling quarterly average proportion of E. coli blood specimens non-susceptible to at least three of the key antimicrobials (gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam, 3rd-generation cephalosporins or carbapenems). For England this is 5.5% with little fluctuation over time.

This is exactly why the UK’s five-year national action plan for AMR, published alongside the UK 20-year vision for AMR on 24 January 2019, includes a strengthened focus on infection prevention and control, renewing our commitment to halve levels of healthcare associated Gram-negative blood stream infections (mostly E.coli) by 2023-24. The plan also sets a world-first target to reduce the actual numbers of resistant infections, with the aim to reduce them by 10% by 2025.

We are working with the devolved health administrations to develop consistent methodologies for reporting the incidence and mortality of key antibiotic resistant infections and antimicrobial use to allow us to report progress on the ambitions of the AMR national action plan.

As reductions in inappropriate prescribing also reduces the risk of promoting the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, interventions to reduce antibiotic prescribing or transmission of the bacteria are complementary.

24th Jul 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they provide to local authorities regarding the payment for travel time to carers travelling between clients; and whether local authorities are required to check if any external contractors they use to provide caring services are paying those costs.

The Government provides online guidance on the steps employers and others must take to comply with the National Minimum Wage, which states that the hours of work that count for minimum wage purposes include any time when a worker is travelling from one work assignment to another.

The Government is clear that local authorities should have regard to the cost of care when setting prices. This is set out in the statutory guidance to the Care Act 2014.

In 2016 the Department worked with local government, the care sector and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy to produce a guide to understanding providers’ costs and fair fees – this was published in January 2017. A copy of Working with care providers to understand costs: A guide for adult social care commissioners is attached.

28th Jun 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support is available to parents or adopters of children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Information on numbers of patients with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) receiving treatment on the National Health Service is not collected centrally.

The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines advise women who are pregnant or think they could become pregnant that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to reduce risks to the baby to a minimum.

As part of the Maternity Transformation Programme, Public Health England (PHE) is leading work to provide prevention-focused leadership to support a reduction in the proportion of women drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Midwives and health visitors also have a role in providing clear, consistent advice and early identification and support. Additionally PHE’s Start4Life programme also provides online information on the impact of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, including the risk of FASD.

The Department for Education through the Adoption Support Fund has made funding available to local authorities to support adopted children with a range of specialist assessments and therapy to treat a variety of conditions. This includes FASD.

28th Jun 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information is provided to women to try to prevent foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Information on numbers of patients with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) receiving treatment on the National Health Service is not collected centrally.

The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines advise women who are pregnant or think they could become pregnant that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to reduce risks to the baby to a minimum.

As part of the Maternity Transformation Programme, Public Health England (PHE) is leading work to provide prevention-focused leadership to support a reduction in the proportion of women drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Midwives and health visitors also have a role in providing clear, consistent advice and early identification and support. Additionally PHE’s Start4Life programme also provides online information on the impact of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, including the risk of FASD.

The Department for Education through the Adoption Support Fund has made funding available to local authorities to support adopted children with a range of specialist assessments and therapy to treat a variety of conditions. This includes FASD.

28th Jun 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many patients with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders are receiving treatment on the NHS.

Information on numbers of patients with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) receiving treatment on the National Health Service is not collected centrally.

The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines advise women who are pregnant or think they could become pregnant that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to reduce risks to the baby to a minimum.

As part of the Maternity Transformation Programme, Public Health England (PHE) is leading work to provide prevention-focused leadership to support a reduction in the proportion of women drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Midwives and health visitors also have a role in providing clear, consistent advice and early identification and support. Additionally PHE’s Start4Life programme also provides online information on the impact of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, including the risk of FASD.

The Department for Education through the Adoption Support Fund has made funding available to local authorities to support adopted children with a range of specialist assessments and therapy to treat a variety of conditions. This includes FASD.

7th Dec 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of jury service on the availability of GPs; and whether the Department of Health has any plans to request that the Ministry of Justice exempt GPs from jury service from where there is a shortage of NHS provision.

As independent contractors, it is for individual general practitioner (GP) practices to ensure their registered patients continue to have access to primary medical services where a GP is absent on jury service.

The Department has no plans to request an exemption from jury service for GPs.

21st Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the announcement by the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners that they intend to create a new clinical academic facility for cardiovascular and respiratory services, whether they intend to review the proposal from NHS England to close the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust's congenital heart disease services.

At its public meeting on 30 November 2017 and following its review of and public consultation on Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) services in England, the NHS England Board agreed to note the outline proposal presented by the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust for how full compliance against the standards might be achieved; to confirm that NHS England should work with the Royal Brompton and other potential partners on the full range of options for delivering a solution that could deliver full compliance with the standards and ensure the sustainability of other connected services; and to continue to commission level 1 CHD services from the Trust, conditional on the Trust demonstrating sufficient progress within required timescales.

The commissioning of CHD services in England is a matter for NHS England. The Government will continue to hold NHS England to account as it takes forward the recommendations of its review.

6th Apr 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many operations treating congenital heart conditions were conducted by the Royal Brompton Hospital in London in each of the last three years for (1) adults, and (2) children; and which other hospitals in England and Wales conducted as many, or more, such operations during that period.

The Royal Brompton Hospital conducted a total of 522 operations for congenital heart disease (CHD) conditions in 2015/16, comprising 390 operations for children and 132 operations for adults. In 2014/15, the Royal Brompton’s surgical activity comprised 512 operations for CHD conditions, which included 370 operations for children and 142 operations for adults. Surgical activity in 2013/14 at the Royal Brompton comprised 412 CHD operations for children and 125 CHD operations for adults, which gives a total of 537 CHD operations for that year.

The hospitals in England and Wales which conducted as many, or more, congenital heart disease operations for children and adults between 2013 and 2016 are Great Ormond Street Hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Leeds Children’s Hospital, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, University College Hospital London, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

20th Mar 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when NHS England expects to make a final decision on its review into congenital heart disease services.

NHS England will make a decision on its proposals for changes to adult and children’s congenital heart services in England following a consultation which is now underway and which closes on 5 June 2017. It has worked, and will continue to work, with providers and other stakeholders to assess the impact of these proposals and will publish further information in due course.

9th Dec 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that local authorities will have funds available to meet the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission; and how funding will be linked to local levels of need.

The Government remains committed to introducing a cap on care costs and extension of means tested support, which will be implemented from April 2020.

The Spending Review 2015 set budgets for the next four years to 2019-20. The final year includes funding to cover the costs of local authorities preparing to implement the changes the following year. Decisions about the allocation of funding for these reforms will be confirmed nearer the time.

The Department will continue to develop the policy underpinning the cap on care costs in the run-up to a consultation on draft regulations and guidance in the summer of 2018. The Department will work closely with the sector to ensure that their views are taken into account as we plan for implementation.

In addition to the cap on care costs, the Dilnot commission recommended the introduction of national eligibility criteria and universal Deferred Payment Agreements, both of which have been implemented from April 2015.

9th Dec 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission, when stakeholders, including local authorities, will be consulted on the implementation of the care cap; and what engagement mechanisms will be used.

The Government remains committed to introducing a cap on care costs and extension of means tested support, which will be implemented from April 2020.

The Spending Review 2015 set budgets for the next four years to 2019-20. The final year includes funding to cover the costs of local authorities preparing to implement the changes the following year. Decisions about the allocation of funding for these reforms will be confirmed nearer the time.

The Department will continue to develop the policy underpinning the cap on care costs in the run-up to a consultation on draft regulations and guidance in the summer of 2018. The Department will work closely with the sector to ensure that their views are taken into account as we plan for implementation.

In addition to the cap on care costs, the Dilnot commission recommended the introduction of national eligibility criteria and universal Deferred Payment Agreements, both of which have been implemented from April 2015.

9th Dec 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission will be implemented by the end of this Parliament.

The Government remains committed to introducing a cap on care costs and extension of means tested support, which will be implemented from April 2020.

The Spending Review 2015 set budgets for the next four years to 2019-20. The final year includes funding to cover the costs of local authorities preparing to implement the changes the following year. Decisions about the allocation of funding for these reforms will be confirmed nearer the time.

The Department will continue to develop the policy underpinning the cap on care costs in the run-up to a consultation on draft regulations and guidance in the summer of 2018. The Department will work closely with the sector to ensure that their views are taken into account as we plan for implementation.

In addition to the cap on care costs, the Dilnot commission recommended the introduction of national eligibility criteria and universal Deferred Payment Agreements, both of which have been implemented from April 2015.

3rd Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 April 2013 (WA 372), and in the light of proposals to introduce fluoride to tap water in Hull, what are the most recent figures for the average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth amongst (1) five year old children and (2) 12 year old children, in (a) Birmingham, and (b) Manchester.

The most recent comparable statistics are from the Public Health England Dental Public Health Intelligence Programme. The 2015 survey of five-year-old children showed an average of 0.8 decayed, missing or filled teeth among children in Birmingham and 1.3 teeth among those in Manchester. A copy of the National Dental Epidemiology Programme for England: oral health survey of five-year-old children 2015 A report on the prevalence and severity of dental decay is attached. There are no more recent figures for twelve-year-old children than those given by Earl Howe in his response of 22 April 2013 (WA 372), the 2009 survey showing an average of 0.65 decayed missing or filled teeth in Birmingham and 1.12 in Manchester.

3rd Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 April 2013 (HL372), and in the light of the water supply being fluoridated in Birmingham but not Manchester, on what evidential basis their assessment was made that there are no significant differences in the general health of the populations of Manchester and Birmingham, other than differences in average decayed, missing and filled teeth.

Health profiles maintained by Public Health England (PHE) show that there are no significant differences in the general health of the populations of Manchester and Birmingham that might be attributable to water fluoridation. PHE’s Water fluoridation: Health monitoring report for England 2014 compared a range of dental and non-dental health indicators in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in England. The report concluded that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure as there were reduced levels of tooth decay in fluoridated areas and no evidence of potential harm for the health indicators measured. A copy of this report is attached.

11th Sep 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to make representations to Manchester City Council to give further consideration to fluoridation of the water supply in Greater Manchester; and whether any such representations will take account of the lower level of tooth decay amongst children in Birmingham, where the water supply has been fluoridated since 1964.

It has been the policy of successive governments that decisions on water fluoridation are best taken locally. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 gave powers to upper tier and unitary local authorities to make proposals in relation to fluoridation.

In 2014 Public Health England published a water fluoridation health monitoring report which showed lower levels of tooth decay in areas with water fluoridation.

Public Health England has also, in 2014, published an evidence informed toolkit for local authorities to support them in planning, reviewing and commissioning oral health improvement interventions for children and young people, including the potential role of water fluoridation.

11th Sep 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 27 July (HL1635), whether they have plans to introduce day surgery appointments for the clearance or extraction of deciduous teeth under general anaesthetic.

Many extractions are already carried out on a day case basis; whether the extraction is carried out as a day case or requires an overnight admission is a matter for the clinicians involved.

NHS England has advised that NHS Lancashire and Greater Manchester have for a number of years commissioned day case surgery as well as overnight admission for children who require a full clearance of deciduous teeth under general anaesthetic.

10th Sep 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many patients on long-term Warfarin prescriptions now have access to self-monitoring technology; and whether Clinical Commissioning Groups support moves towards further patient self-management.

Information on the number of patients on long-term Warfarin prescriptions who have access to self-monitoring technology is not collected centrally.

NHS England and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have responsibility for commissioned services for patients who receive anticoagulation treatments. It is for individual CCGs to commission treatment and services for patients on anticoagulation treatment or other medications which require monitoring, as they are best placed to identify what is needed in their local areas.

There is guidance in place to support CCGs in planning services for patients who receive anticoagulation treatments. Under its Diagnostics Assessment Programme, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on self-monitoring of anticoagulation treatments which is attached and also available at:

http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/dg14

NICE has also published quality standards on the management and treatment of atrial fibrillation which set out that self-monitoring should be offered as an option to appropriate patients. The guidance is also attached and available at:

http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs93/chapter/Quality-statement-6-developmental-Selfmonitoring-of-anticoagulation

20th Jul 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what immediate action is planned to address waiting times, in particular in Manchester, for children whose dental condition requires hospital admission and clearance of their deciduous teeth under general anaesthetic.

The Government is seeking to address waiting times by reducing the number of children requiring admissions for clearance of their deciduous teeth and action is being taken by local commissioners and public health departments.

For instance, Greater Manchester advises that it is working with consultants in dental public health, public health commissioning, and oral health improvement teams in local authorities to develop oral health strategies. They intend to target delivery of care to areas of identified need according to the “National Dental Epidemiology Programme for England, oral health survey of five-year-old children 2012.” A copy of the survey is attached.

16th Jul 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed relocation of the Eastman Dental Hospital, what steps are being taken to ensure the continuation of the specialised dental postgraduate training and research facilities currently offered.

We understand there are no plans to reduce the specialised dental postgraduate training and research currently offered as a consequence of the proposed move from the current site.

30th Jun 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what opportunities will be available to participate in the Accelerated Access Review announced in November 2014 as "The Innovative Medicines and Medical Technology Review" for (1) the public and patient groups, (2) medical charities, (3) academics, (4) researchers, and (5) other interested parties; and when they expect it to report.

In order to inform his recommendations, the independent chair of the Accelerated Access Review, Sir Hugh Taylor, will be seeking views from a variety of stakeholder groups, including patients and their carers, medical charities, academics and researchers, as well as industry, the National Health Service and key arm’s length bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and NHS England. We have agreed a systematic engagement approach for these groups to ensure they all have the opportunity to input. A workshop involving representation from all these stakeholder groups was held on 2 July, and the review team is asking umbrella organisations and trade bodies to support it in continuing to reach a wide audience by holding a series of engagement events throughout the summer; these events are currently being planned. The review’s website is also being developed to include a crowdsourcing platform to allow these groups, and the wider public, to participate.

We expect the report of the Accelerated Access review to be submitted by the end of the year.

30th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to the National Health Service in the last year of the number of children being hospitalised for the extensive extraction of deciduous teeth; and whether they will consider setting up day-care clinics that could carry out such work.

The following table shows the estimated cost of tooth extractions for children aged 18 years and under for 2012-13. The data covers all tooth extractions, and does not distinguish between deciduous or adult teeth.

Healthcare Resource Group description

Estimated total cost £million

Minor Extraction of Tooth, 18 years and under

3.1

Extraction of Multiple Teeth, 18 years and under

27.4

Source: Reference costs, Department of Health1

Tooth extractions in children often involve general anaesthesia. Extractions involving general anaesthesia were restricted to the hospital setting following the recommendations of the 2000 report ‘A conscious decision’ that patients should have access to high quality critical care facilities when general anaesthesia is given. There are currently no plans to change this. Many extractions are carried out on a day case basis; whether the extraction is carried out as a day case or requires an overnight admission is a matter for the clinicians involved.

70% of five year olds now have no dental decay but we recognise that significant inequalities remain. Wider work is under way through dental contract reform and other prevention focussed initiatives to improve oral health.

Note:

1www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-reference-costs-2012-to-2013

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
29th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of research in other countries into the use of Cladribine to treat multiple<i></i>sclerosis; and what such research has been carried out in the United Kingdom for the National Health Service.

Cladribine is not licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Prescribers can prescribe a medicine “off label” for unlicensed indications if they consider it to be of benefit to the patient and on condition that they retain full clinical responsibility for that patient.

The National Institute for Health Research Horizon Scanning Centre published a report on cladribine for multiple sclerosis in 2008 and this is available at:

www.hsc.nihr.ac.uk/topics/cladribine-movectro-for-multiple-sclerosis-relapsi

We have made no assessment of research undertaken in other countries.

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
29th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Cladribine is available for people with multiple<i></i>sclerosis through the National Health Service; and, if not, what steps they are taking to make it available.

Cladribine is not licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Prescribers can prescribe a medicine “off label” for unlicensed indications if they consider it to be of benefit to the patient and on condition that they retain full clinical responsibility for that patient.

The National Institute for Health Research Horizon Scanning Centre published a report on cladribine for multiple sclerosis in 2008 and this is available at:

www.hsc.nihr.ac.uk/topics/cladribine-movectro-for-multiple-sclerosis-relapsi

We have made no assessment of research undertaken in other countries.

Earl Howe
Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
22nd Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that AirBnB will share data with HMRC about the earnings of hosts in the UK for the years 2017/18 and 2018/19, what steps they are taking to ensure all short term letting agencies do the same; and what plans they have to share this data with local councils to ensure properties in their areas are let for only 90 days of short term lettings a year.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receive data routinely from a variety of sources. This data supports compliance activity to reduce the size of the gap between the tax which is owed and that which is paid.

HMRC understand that the short-term property letting market is a rapidly evolving sector and are working in partnership with companies such as Airbnb to address the tax consequences of these changes, supporting taxpayers in ensuring they are aware of their tax obligations and pay the right tax at the right time.

HMRC are bound by a strict duty of confidentiality as laid down in the Commissioners for Revenue & Customs Act (CRCA) 2005 with respect to all of the information they hold in connection with their functions. HMRC officials may share information only in the limited circumstances set out in legislation, which include disclosures for the purposes of HMRC’s functions, through specific information sharing legislative gateways.