Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what commitments they made to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018; what resources were promised for each commitment; and what is the proposed timetable for the implementation of each commitment.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
As stated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting: Written statement (HLWS616) made by Baroness Evans of Bowes Park on 23 April, we agreed a range of actions with fellow members to build a Commonwealth which is fairer, more sustainable, more secure and more prosperous. These commitments were captured in a Communiqué and accompanying Leaders' Statement, copies of which have been placed in the House of Commons Library by the Prime Minister. We refer the noble Lord to these statements and documents.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what decisions have been made about the provision of accelerated degree courses in higher education following their public consultation completed on 11 February.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie
As the Noble Lord, Lord Luce, notes, the government’s consultation on proposals to incentivise wider provision and uptake of accelerated degrees in higher education was published in December 2017. This consultation closed in February 2018.
The Department for Education received a range of detailed and comprehensive responses from providers, organisations and individuals across the higher education sector. We are currently considering these responses and will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a helpline for any patients who have been prescribed opioids to seek advice.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Government has no plans to introduce a requirement for general practitioners (GPs) to carry out an annual health check on all patients who have been prescribed opioids for chronic pain or to introduce a helpline. People who have any concerns or questions about a prescribed opioid drug they are taking should seek help from a health professional in the first instance (such as a GP or pharmacist). Help and advice is also available from, for example, the 111 helpline or the online NHS Choices service.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to require GPs to carry out an annual check on all patients who have been prescribed opioids for chronic pain.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Government has no plans to introduce a requirement for general practitioners (GPs) to carry out an annual health check on all patients who have been prescribed opioids for chronic pain or to introduce a helpline. People who have any concerns or questions about a prescribed opioid drug they are taking should seek help from a health professional in the first instance (such as a GP or pharmacist). Help and advice is also available from, for example, the 111 helpline or the online NHS Choices service.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to provide and support community helpline services for patients who are addicted to prescription opioids and who are seeking help.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Government takes seriously the issue of addiction to prescription medicines. People who feel that they might be dependent on either prescribed or over the counter medicines should seek help from a health professional in the first instance, such as a general practitioner (GP) or pharmacist. Help and advice is also available from, for example, the 111 helpline or the online NHS Choices service.
It is the responsibility of local authorities to commission services to meet assessed local need, including addiction to medicines, and there may be a range of services which can help. Specialist advice for GPs and support for patients with complex and severe problems is available from substance misuse services, which are available in each local authority across the country.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what NHS and voluntary services are currently available to help patients who are addicted to prescription opioids.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Government takes seriously the issue of addiction to prescription medicines. People who feel that they might be dependent on either prescribed or over the counter medicines should seek help from a health professional in the first instance, such as a general practitioner (GP) or pharmacist. Help and advice is also available from, for example, the 111 helpline or the online NHS Choices service.
It is the responsibility of local authorities to commission services to meet assessed local need, including addiction to medicines, and there may be a range of services which can help. Specialist advice for GPs and support for patients with complex and severe problems is available from substance misuse services, which are available in each local authority across the country.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the economic cost of the loss of productivity resulting from muscolo-skeletal problems and chronic pain.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The Government is committed to helping people with musculoskeletal (MSK) and other long-term health conditions to get into, stay in, or return to work. Good work is generally for people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, and work participation has benefits for the wider economy. It is estimated that the total cost of ill-health that prevents working age people from working, is around £100 billion per year.
That is why we published Improving Lives: The Future of Work, Health and Disability in November 2017. The publication sets out our plans over the next ten years focussing, in particular, on the next two to three years and on three key settings – the welfare system, the workplace and health services. A copy is attached.
Support for people with MSK conditions is one theme of the publication, as MSK conditions are among the most common health conditions affecting people’s work participation. In relation to MSK services, we are continuing to invest in research to build our understanding of existing provision across the health and employment support systems.
The Government will continue to work with other key stakeholders, disabled people and other experts as we develop our plans.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce legislation in relation to the Fit for Work scheme; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Buscombe
There are no plans to introduce legislation in relation to Fit for Work.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many deaths in England over the past five years were caused by or linked to the use of over the counter opioids.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to Lord Luce, dated 26 February 2018
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions asking (i) how many deaths in England over the past five years were caused by or linked to prescription opioids (HL5647); and (ii) how many deaths in England over the past five years were caused by or linked to the use of over the counter opioids (HL5648).
The Office for National Statistics produces an annual report on deaths relating to drug poisoning.1 Drug poisoning deaths involve a broad spectrum of substances, including legal and illegal drugs, prescription type drugs and over-the-counter medications. Tables 6a to 6d published alongside the bulletin show the different drugs involved in each death, for England and Wales.
Table 1 below provides the number of deaths registered in England in the five years 2012 to 2016 where the underlying cause of death was drug-related and involved opiates. It cannot be inferred from the available data whether the substances were prescribed to the deceased, prescribed to another person, or obtained by other means.
Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause was drug-related and involved opiates, persons, England, 2012-16 (see notes 2,3,4) | |||||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Persons | 1167 | 1469 | 1688 | 1841 | 1867 |
Yours sincerely
John Pullinger
Box 1. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes used to define deaths related to drug poisoning |
| |||||||
Description | ICD-10 Codes |
| ||||||
Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) | F11–F16, F18–F19 |
| ||||||
Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances | X40–X44 |
| ||||||
Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances | X60–X64 |
| ||||||
Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances | X85 |
| ||||||
Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent | Y10–Y14 |
| ||||||
2 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were selected where the underlying cause was drug poisoning and the specified substance was mentioned on the death certificate. The ICD codes used to select deaths related to drug poisoning are shown in Box 1 above.
3 Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Due to the length of time it takes to complete a coroner’s inquest, it can take months or even years for a drug-related death to be registered. More details can be found in the 'deaths related to drug poisoning' statistical bulletin: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/previousReleases
4 Any Opiate' figures include unspecified opiates, but exclude paracetamol compounds.
Asked by: Lord Luce (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many deaths in England over the past five years were caused by or linked to prescription opioids.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to Lord Luce, dated 26 February 2018
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions asking (i) how many deaths in England over the past five years were caused by or linked to prescription opioids (HL5647); and (ii) how many deaths in England over the past five years were caused by or linked to the use of over the counter opioids (HL5648).
The Office for National Statistics produces an annual report on deaths relating to drug poisoning.1 Drug poisoning deaths involve a broad spectrum of substances, including legal and illegal drugs, prescription type drugs and over-the-counter medications. Tables 6a to 6d published alongside the bulletin show the different drugs involved in each death, for England and Wales.
Table 1 below provides the number of deaths registered in England in the five years 2012 to 2016 where the underlying cause of death was drug-related and involved opiates. It cannot be inferred from the available data whether the substances were prescribed to the deceased, prescribed to another person, or obtained by other means.
Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause was drug-related and involved opiates, persons, England, 2012-16 (see notes 2,3,4) | |||||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
Persons | 1167 | 1469 | 1688 | 1841 | 1867 |
Yours sincerely
John Pullinger
Box 1. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes used to define deaths related to drug poisoning |
| |||||||
Description | ICD-10 Codes |
| ||||||
Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) | F11–F16, F18–F19 |
| ||||||
Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances | X40–X44 |
| ||||||
Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances | X60–X64 |
| ||||||
Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances | X85 |
| ||||||
Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent | Y10–Y14 |
| ||||||
2 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were selected where the underlying cause was drug poisoning and the specified substance was mentioned on the death certificate. The ICD codes used to select deaths related to drug poisoning are shown in Box 1 above.
3 Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Due to the length of time it takes to complete a coroner’s inquest, it can take months or even years for a drug-related death to be registered. More details can be found in the 'deaths related to drug poisoning' statistical bulletin: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/previousReleases
4 Any Opiate' figures include unspecified opiates, but exclude paracetamol compounds.