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
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
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
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
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
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 for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, (1) to give National Highways enforcement powers to tackle the dropping or dumping of litter on motorways in England, and (2) to increase penalties for those who commit such offences.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Government has no plans to give National Highways enforcement powers to tackle littering offences on motorways in England. National Highways is not an enforcement organisation as its focus is on safety and maintaining the road network.
In recent years Government has bolstered Local Authority enforcement powers by raising the upper limit on fixed penalty notices for littering and introducing powers to issue the keeper of a vehicle from which litter is thrown with a civil penalty.
We are committed to working with National Highways and across Government to improve enforcement around roadside littering offences.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the state of litter collection on (a) the A13, and (b) the A12, and (2) whether National Highways is meeting its obligations to keep these roads clean.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
National Highways is responsible for keeping the A13 clear of litter and refuse as far as is practicable. Relevant Local Authorities hold this responsibility along the A12. National Highways has committed to report a litter performance indicator during the second Road Investment Strategy 2020-25. Specific regional assessments are the responsibility of National Highways and relevant local duty bodies. In 2021/22 National Highways reported that 60.8% of relevant parts of the Strategic Road Network had no litter, refuse or detritus, or was predominately free of litter, refuse or detritus apart from some small items.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many prosecutions there have been of individuals dropping or dumping litter on motorways in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Prosecutions for littering offences on motorways are carried out by appropriate organisations for each case, including Local Authorities, the Police, the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency and the Environment Agency. Therefore, Government does not hold a total number for prosecutions. Each individual organisation noted may have relevant numbers regarding the amount of prosecutions for littering offences on motorways in England in each of the past five years.