Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Lord Markham on 8 June (HLWS826), what assessment they have made of the incidence of HIV in (1) women, and (2) heterosexual men, between 2019 and 2021; and what steps they are taking to improve this.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK Health Security Agency is currently developing a methodology to estimate incidence among heterosexual men and women based on the methodology currently used to produce estimates of incidence for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. As estimates of incidence are not available for heterosexual men and women, new diagnoses first made in the United Kingdom are used as a proxy and interpreted in context of levels of HIV testing amongst those populations.
Between 2019 and 2021, there was a slight increase in HIV diagnoses and late HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals, whilst HIV testing coverage remained substantially lower in 2021 than in 2019. In addition, the estimated number of undiagnosed people among heterosexual men and women did not decline over the same period. These figures suggest that there was no fall in incidence in this population.
The HIV Action Plan published in 2020 aims to reduce new HIV infections by 80% between 2019 and 2025 and details a range of actions committed to in order to help achieve this ambition.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments in areas of London with high HIV prevalence.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
NHS England has committed £20 million in 2022 to 2025 to fund the expansion of HIV opt-out testing in emergency departments (EDs) in areas with extremely high HIV prevalence. The NHS England London region took a decision to include all EDs in the project, which included some of which were in high HIV prevalence areas.
Provisional data from NHS England indicates that this HIV opt-out testing initiative has helped find more than 550 cases of undiagnosed or untreated HIV in the first year of the programme. We are currently considering the results of the first year of HIV opt-out testing and the programme’s contribution to finding cases of undiagnosed or untreated HIV and preventing further HIV transmissions, alongside data on progress towards our ambitions to end new HIV transmissions, AIDS and HIV-related deaths within England by 2030.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine to tour the UK this autumn, particularly in regard to the granting of visas.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
UK Visas and Immigration can confirm that the Visa application centre (VAC) is open in Kyiv along with 242 other global VACs. Visa applications for those intending to visit or work in the UK are currently being processed within 15 days, or should a decision be required quicker, there are priority services available in a number of locations.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether NHS England has set key performance indicators for integrated care boards or NHS Trusts to improve detection of osteoporotic fractures; and, in considering whether or not to set such key performance indicators, whether NHS England takes account of the risk that bone fractures can cause of premature death and disability.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
As part of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership commission and manage a range of audits, including the Falls and Fragility Fracture Audit Programme. These collect and analyse data supplied by local clinicians to provide a national picture regarding care. The results can then be used by systems and trusts to focus quality improvement.
This programme audits against a range of key performance indicators informed by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology assessments and guidance from the Royal Osteoporotic Society Clinical Standards. This includes those related to detection of osteoporotic fractures. There are also indicators related to osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures within the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to encourage NHS England to designate osteoporosis as a ‘long term condition’.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department continues to work with NHS England on musculoskeletal policy, including considering classification of conditions such as osteoporosis.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for appointing (1) a National Clinical Director, or (2) National Specialty Adviser, for osteoporosis within NHS England.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
Andrew Bennett is NHS England’s national clinical director for musculoskeletal conditions, which includes osteoporosis.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Russia regarding the detention of the journalist Evan Gershkovich; and what further action they propose.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In response to Evan Gershkovich's arrest, the Foreign Secretary said "Russia's decision to detain Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich shows their complete disregard for media freedom." On 17 April, the UK co-signed a statement by the Media Freedom Coalition of 46 UN Member States, delivered by the US Ambassador. We condemned Mr Gershkovich's detention and urged Russia to end its draconian crackdown on freedom of expression, including against media figures. As Mr Gershkovich is a US citizen the US Government will lead on consular support. The UK will work with the US to support their efforts to secure his release.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what their timeline is for implementing clause 43 of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill regarding the taking of a dog without lawful authority; and what plans they have, if any, to extend that clause to apply to cats.
Answered by Lord Benyon
The addition of cats to the pet abduction offence in the Kept Animals Bill was raised at Commons Committee Stage. We are considering it carefully. The next stage of the Bill will be announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what timeframe they will (1) assess the first year of opt-out HIV and hepatitis testing, and (2) decide whether to expand opt-out testing to areas with a high HIV prevalence.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will publish the reports for the first year of opt-out human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and blood borne virus testing, including hepatitis, in 2023. When examining the feasibility of further expanding HIV opt-out testing to areas of high prevalence, we will be considering these results and assess its contribution to finding cases of undiagnosed or untreated HIV and preventing further HIV transmissions in the areas it is currently being rolled out. We will also take into account data on progress towards our ambitions to end new HIV transmissions, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and HIV related deaths within England by 2030, including the estimated number of people living with undiagnosed HIV, published regularly by UKHSA through the HIV Action Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs and benefits of funding HIV and hepatitis testing in emergency departments.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will publish the reports for the first year of opt-out human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and blood borne virus testing, including hepatitis, in 2023. When examining the feasibility of further expanding HIV opt-out testing to areas of high prevalence, we will be considering these results and assess its contribution to finding cases of undiagnosed or untreated HIV and preventing further HIV transmissions in the areas it is currently being rolled out. We will also take into account data on progress towards our ambitions to end new HIV transmissions, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and HIV related deaths within England by 2030, including the estimated number of people living with undiagnosed HIV, published regularly by UKHSA through the HIV Action Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.