Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve primary care facilities in (a) Romford constituency and (b) the surrounding area.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and this means better utilising and expanding primary care infrastructure across the NHS estate. That is why we have set out our intention to fix the front door to the NHS and bring healthcare closer to home, and the local community.
The North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) advised that two new primary care facilities have opened recently within the borough of Havering, specifically St George’s Hub and Wellbeing Centre and Raphael House, both of which are providing extensive health care facilities, including offering out of hours appointments.
The North East London ICB is also engaging in a strategic review of NHS Property Service (NHSPS) and Community Health Partnership (CHP) assets in central Romford, to ensure that the healthcare infrastructure can meet the future demands of a growing and changing population. With new housing developments projected to increase the patient population by 28,000 by 2030, and additional population growth driven by demographic changes , the ICB notes that it is clear that demand for healthcare services will rise significantly beyond the impact of housing developments alone.
To address this, the North East London ICB is conducting a comprehensive review of all NHSPS and CHP assets as part of the Central Romford Master Plan. This includes assessing the current utilisation of leased space, and working with stakeholders to reconfigure and maximise underutilised estates, identifying voids, and exploring redevelopment opportunities to ensure we future proof healthcare provisions within the area.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark on (a) Greenland and (b) the Faroe Islands since taking office.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK values its strong partnerships with all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark and engages accordingly. On 13 January, I held my second meeting with Greenland's Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, in London, to discuss bilateral relations. This followed our first meeting at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland in October. I also met the Faroese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Høgni Hoydal, in October. FCDO Officials regularly engage with Danish, Faroese and Greenlandic counterparts to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to (a) increase the number of practical driving tests available in (i) Greater London and (ii) Essex and (b) help prevent unauthorised vendors selling practical test slots online.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work to attract and recruit more driving examiners in the London and South East area, including Greater London and Essex.
As well as new Driving Examiners (DEs) who have now begun testing, DVSA is running training courses for successful candidates from recent campaigns, who, if successful, will join driving test centres (DTCs) in the region.
DVSA concluded another recruitment campaign at the end of 2024 and is in the process of making offers to successful candidates. Another
recruitment campaign is currently expected to begin in March 2025.
To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, DVSA continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests and has announced further measures to review the driving test booking system. A call for evidence was launched on 18 December 2024, seeking views on the current rules to book tests. This will lead to consultation on improving processes, with potential future legislative changes.
On 6 January 2025, DVSA also introduced tougher terms and conditions for the service driving instructors use to book and manage car driving tests for their pupils.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent progress he has made on free-trade negotiations with the Swiss Confederation.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The fifth round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Switzerland took place in London between 14 and 18 October 2024. UK negotiators made good progress, working towards agreeing ambitious outcomes in key areas including services, investment and digital. Round 6 talks are expected to take place in Switzerland in early 2025. The Government will continue to work towards delivering outcomes in the FTA that secure economic growth for the UK and will update Parliament on the progress of discussions with Switzerland as they continue to develop.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to people affected by seasonal flu in Romford constituency.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to protecting those at greatest risk from seasonal flu through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
The flu vaccination programme continues until 31 March 2025, so there continues to be the opportunity for eligible people in Romford to come forward for vaccination, and NHS England London is continuing with the autumn and winter communications campaign to encourage those who are eligible and at-risk to receive vaccination. For school-aged children, the school-aged immunisation providers are currently running mop-up community clinics where children who missed the offer of vaccination at school can still be vaccinated. There are also opportunistic vaccinations of two- to three-year-olds via these clinics, as well as the offer of vaccination via general practice.
NHS England has confirmed that all care homes in the London region have been visited to ensure they receive the offer of vaccination, and there has been a programme in place in each integrated care board to support housebound visits for those who cannot leave their own home.
For those who have contracted flu or who are at high-risk of severe illness and/or complications if they were to contract flu, there is scope for general practices to prescribe anti-virals, based on a clinical assessment regarding need.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 14th October 2024 to Question 5918 on Department for Business and Trade: Canada, whether he plans to meet the Agent General of (a) Ontario, (b) Quebec and (c) Saskatchewan in the next six months.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has no plans to meet with the Agents General of Ontario, Quebec, or Saskatchewan in the next six months.
Canada is a key ally and valued partner for the UK. Our trade relationship – worth £26.4 billion in the 12 months to June 2024 – is underpinned by regular engagement, including at the provincial level.
In November 2024, I attended the 8th annual CPTPP ministerial meeting in Vancouver, during which I met with Canadian officials, business leaders and Indigenous communities to confirm our common interests in a future of shared security and economic growth.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the implications for (a) his policies and (b) bilateral trade relations of Argentina’s most recent debt repayments to international bondholders.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government continually monitors international economic developments and is aware of the domestic reforms that the Argentine government is undertaking and their most recent debt repayments. The UK is working with Argentina to strengthen our trade relationship – worth £2 billion in the 12 months to June 2024. In October 2024, the Secretary of State met his Argentine counterpart, the first ministerial meeting between trade ministers since 2019 and agreed to work together in areas such as services, customs, and education.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of Mexico's recent constitutional reforms on UK investments in the regional energy sector.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Embassy in Mexico regularly engages with the Mexican Government to underline the importance of strong institutions, independent courts, and the rule of law.
My Department has been following the regulatory reforms closely. We are aware of market reactions and maintain a dialogue with the Mexican Government at the highest levels about how these reforms may affect UK business. Mexico is a long-standing and valued trade partner for the UK and we are working to grow our two-way trade and investment.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies on Western Sahara of Morocco’s autonomy plan.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK strongly supports the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, and continues to encourage constructive engagement with the UN political process. The UK believes this process is the best way to solve the long-standing dispute by delivering a solution agreeable to all parties, one which would contribute significantly to regional security and prosperity.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure the continued presence of Royal Navy assets in the Middle East maritime theatre.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence keeps its force posture in the Middle East under continual review to safeguard the UK’s national security interests and operational requirements. We remain committed to working with our partners across the region. The Strategic Defence Review, due to be published in the Spring, will set out Defence’s strategic priorities and context for subsequent resource allocation, including informing the global distribution of Royal Navy assets.