Asked by: Lord Bishop of Carlisle (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will allocate the remainder of the £40 million pledged to brain cancer research announced in May 2018.
Answered by Lord Bethell
We are unable to specify an exact date when the remainder of the £40 million will be allocated, as we are relying on researchers to submit high-quality research proposals in this very difficult area. However, we are working to improve the number and quality of applications by working with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission towards funding workshops for previously unsuccessful researchers to support them in submitting higher quality research applications.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Carlisle (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the passing of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 on 25 June, what information and guidance they plan to provide online about the availability of counselling and mediation services for couples going through the procedure of divorce.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
As part of implementing the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act, the Government is committed to ensuring that appropriate support services are clearly signposted from gov.uk webpages for those contemplating divorce. We are also committed to providing appropriate signposting as part of the legal process of divorce through an updated online divorce service. While precise details are yet to be finalised, these services would likely include mediation and marriage and relationship support services.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Carlisle (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the government of China's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners has not been referenced in relation to their proposals for a new Magnitsky-style sanctions regime.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We have announced our intention to establish a UK autonomous Global Human Rights ('Magnitsky-style') sanctions regime. It would be inappropriate to comment on potential designations before the regulations come into force.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Carlisle (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) train, (2) recruit, and (3) retain, sufficient numbers of podiatrists to meet (a) current, and (b) future, needs.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The NHS People Plan, which will be published by the National Health Service in early 2020, will set out a clear framework for growing and sustaining a well-skilled workforce across the whole NHS.
In December 2019, the Government announced additional maintenance grant funding, which will be available from September 2020 for new and continuing students of £5,000. In addition, students with child dependants will benefit from an extra £1,000 and new students studying a specialist subject including podiatry will be able to access a further £1,000. These grants are on top of student loan allowances and do not need to be re-paid.
NHS Improvement has developed a shared learning resource to improve staff retention, including case studies to highlight the great work taking place across the service.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Carlisle (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ensure that individuals prescribed opioid medication for chronic pain have their prescriptions reviewed on an annual basis.
Answered by Baroness Barran
The General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) ethical guidance Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices (2013) sets out that with all prescriptions, it is expected that clinicians make sure that suitable arrangements are in place for monitoring, follow-up and review, taking account of the patients’ needs and any risks arising from the medicines.
A copy of the GMC guidance is attached.