Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of decreased funding for Public Health England on its ability to decrease health inequalities for people with epilepsy.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
No assessment has been made of the effect of funding for Public Health England (PHE) on its ability to reduce health inequalities for people with epilepsy.
PHE continues to provide data, intelligence and evidence-based advice to local authorities and the National Health Service on health inequalities and impacts for specific population groups.
In February 2018, PHE published data analysis for local authorities and the NHS highlighting the number and rate of deaths associated with epilepsy and other neurological conditions. The report identified inequalities in deaths associated with epilepsy and encourages local action. The report can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/deaths-associated-with-neurological-conditions
PHE also provides access to intelligence resources on neurological conditions including epilepsy via the ‘Neurology data and analysis: a guide for health professionals’ page on Gov.uk, available to view at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/neurology-data-and-analysis-a-guide-for-health-professionals
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the development renewable transport fuel obligation scheme will include non-biogenic waste.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Fuels made from non-biogenic waste are not currently eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The Department is working to determine whether it is appropriate to amend the RTFO to include incentives for fuels made from non-biogenic waste. It is important that any fuels being considered for inclusion in the RTFO deliver carbon savings, and ultimately contribute to the UK’s climate change commitments.
Officials have been working closely with industry and held a workshop in November 2018 where the issues relating to these fuels were discussed. Any proposal to include fuels from non-biogenic waste in the RTFO would be subject to a public consultation and the Parliamentary process.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the administration of London Capital and Finance PLC.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Treasury is monitoring developments relating to the failure of London Capital & Finance (LCF) very closely and is in regular contact with the Financial Conduct Authority.
However, the Treasury has no formal role in the administration process of a firm such as LCF and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on the administration process, which is a matter for the joint administrators – in this case, Finbarr O’Connell, Adam Stephens, Colin Hardman and Henry Shinners of Smith & Williamson LLP.
Further information regarding the administration itself can be found on the joint administrators’ website at the following link:
https://smithandwilliamson.com/business/services/restructuring-and-recovery-services/london-capital
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report entitled, Deaths associated with neurological conditions in England 2001 to 2014, published by Public Health England, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusion that people with epilepsy are three times more likely to die from their condition if they live in a deprived area.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Ministers routinely meet the system leaders to discuss a broad range of issues concerning population health, including long term health problems. The Department works closely with NHS England and Public Health England (PHE) to support delivery of the Mandate and system objectives.
The PHE report, Deaths associated with neurological conditions in England 2001 to 2014, was developed by PHE’s Neurology Intelligence Network (NIN), and published on 27 February 2018. The report found that a greater proportion of epilepsy related deaths occur in areas of higher levels of deprivation. The rate of deaths associated with epilepsy in areas ranked as the most deprived in England is almost three times larger than in the least deprived; 13 deaths per 100,000 population compared to 5 deaths per 100,000 population. A copy of the report can be found at the following link:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/deaths-associated-with-neurological-conditions
Wider research has shown that epilepsy prevalence varies with social deprivation, but this is not well understood, and it is not clear whether this inequality in mortality is the consequence of the increased prevalence seen in deprived areas, of poor care, or both. However, deprivation is a well-known determinant of poor general health, and although there is insufficient evidence to describe the relationship as causal, it underlines the health inequalities link in relation to epilepsy related deaths.
The Government is acting broadly to reduce health inequalities by addressing the social causes of ill health, promoting healthier lifestyles for all and tackling differences in outcomes of NHS services, all underpinned by legal duties. Through the Mandate the Government has asked NHS England to ensure service commissioning focuses on measurable reductions in inequalities in access to health services, in people’s experience of the health system, and across a specified range of health outcomes which contribute to reducing inequalities in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. National and local outcomes frameworks feature indicators to measure improvements across a range of areas, including inequalities, and the Mandate asks NHS England to do more in increasing the transparency on services and outcomes that these frameworks provide.
At a national level, NHS England is the organisation responsible for securing and supporting high quality outcomes for people with epilepsy, and the vast majority of services for people with the condition are planned and commissioned by local clinical commissioning groups. Action is led locally to ensure the solutions put in place reflect the needs of individual communities.
NHS England’s RightCare programme provides practical support to local commissioners to tackle unwarranted variation, including in services for neurological conditions like epilepsy. NHS England is also working with the Neurological Alliance to support the Neurology Advisory Group, led by Professor Adrian Williams, to align work across the system to improve neurological care. In addition to developing the neurology mortality report, PHE’s NIN provides a broad range of data on disease, services and outcomes, including for epilepsy, to support local commissioners to benchmark services and drive improvement. The neurology mortality report will provide further focus for commissioners in considering whether there are any changes they need to make in terms of service planning and provision, including around the inequality issues identified.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) clinicians and (b) NHS leadership on the findings of Public Health England’s report into Deaths associated with neurological conditions in England 2001 to 2014; and what assessment he has made of the implications of those findings for his Department's work to prevent future deaths from epilepsy.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Ministers routinely meet the system leaders to discuss a broad range of issues concerning population health, including long term health problems. The Department works closely with NHS England and Public Health England (PHE) to support delivery of the Mandate and system objectives.
The PHE report, Deaths associated with neurological conditions in England 2001 to 2014, was developed by PHE’s Neurology Intelligence Network (NIN), and published on 27 February 2018. The report found that a greater proportion of epilepsy related deaths occur in areas of higher levels of deprivation. The rate of deaths associated with epilepsy in areas ranked as the most deprived in England is almost three times larger than in the least deprived; 13 deaths per 100,000 population compared to 5 deaths per 100,000 population. A copy of the report can be found at the following link:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/deaths-associated-with-neurological-conditions
Wider research has shown that epilepsy prevalence varies with social deprivation, but this is not well understood, and it is not clear whether this inequality in mortality is the consequence of the increased prevalence seen in deprived areas, of poor care, or both. However, deprivation is a well-known determinant of poor general health, and although there is insufficient evidence to describe the relationship as causal, it underlines the health inequalities link in relation to epilepsy related deaths.
The Government is acting broadly to reduce health inequalities by addressing the social causes of ill health, promoting healthier lifestyles for all and tackling differences in outcomes of NHS services, all underpinned by legal duties. Through the Mandate the Government has asked NHS England to ensure service commissioning focuses on measurable reductions in inequalities in access to health services, in people’s experience of the health system, and across a specified range of health outcomes which contribute to reducing inequalities in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy. National and local outcomes frameworks feature indicators to measure improvements across a range of areas, including inequalities, and the Mandate asks NHS England to do more in increasing the transparency on services and outcomes that these frameworks provide.
At a national level, NHS England is the organisation responsible for securing and supporting high quality outcomes for people with epilepsy, and the vast majority of services for people with the condition are planned and commissioned by local clinical commissioning groups. Action is led locally to ensure the solutions put in place reflect the needs of individual communities.
NHS England’s RightCare programme provides practical support to local commissioners to tackle unwarranted variation, including in services for neurological conditions like epilepsy. NHS England is also working with the Neurological Alliance to support the Neurology Advisory Group, led by Professor Adrian Williams, to align work across the system to improve neurological care. In addition to developing the neurology mortality report, PHE’s NIN provides a broad range of data on disease, services and outcomes, including for epilepsy, to support local commissioners to benchmark services and drive improvement. The neurology mortality report will provide further focus for commissioners in considering whether there are any changes they need to make in terms of service planning and provision, including around the inequality issues identified.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish the review of post-18 education and funding.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The independent panel will report shortly. The government will then conclude the overall review later this year.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether A1 forms for artists and musicians will be accepted after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Withdrawal Agreement provides for the continuation of social security coordination, which will maintain the current rules on A1 certificates in the UK and EU until the end of the implementation period in December 2020.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the NSPCC regulatory proposals, published on 12 February 2019, whether the legislation outlined in the online harms White Paper will provide a social media regulator with comprehensive powers of information disclosure.
Answered by Margot James
We are considering the full range of possible solutions to address existing and emerging issues relating to online safety, including legal and regulatory changes where necessary. We will, in the coming weeks, publish a joint DCMS-Home Office Online Harms White Paper which will set out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures detailing how we will tackle online harms and setting clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep people safe.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the NSPCC regulatory proposals, published on 12 February 2019, whether social media platforms will be subject to red flag reporting and a general proactive duty to disclose information.
Answered by Margot James
We are considering the full range of possible solutions to address existing and emerging issues relating to online safety, including legal and regulatory changes where necessary. We will, in the coming weeks, publish a joint DCMS-Home Office Online Harms White Paper which will set out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures detailing how we will tackle online harms and setting clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep people safe.
Asked by: Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the NSPCC regulatory proposals, published on 12 February 2019, whether legislation outlined in the forthcoming online harms White Paper will hold named directors of social media companies personally and individually liable for failing to comply with regulation.
Answered by Margot James
We are considering the full range of possible solutions to address existing and emerging issues relating to online safety, including legal and regulatory changes where necessary. We will, in the coming weeks, publish a joint DCMS-Home Office Online Harms White Paper which will set out a range of legislative and non-legislative measures detailing how we will tackle online harms and setting clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep people safe.