Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many UK manufactured covid-19 lateral flow tests are being reviewed by the UK Health Security Agency.
Answered by Maggie Throup
As at 28 January 2022, no lateral flow device (LFD) tests from either United Kingdom or overseas manufacturers have been approved under the Medical Devices (Coronavirus Test Device Approvals) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 since 1 September 2021. The UK Health Security Agency is currently reviewing sixteen applications for LFD tests to be approved from applicants with a UK address. Information on the location where the tests will be manufactured is not collected.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many UK manufactured covid-19 lateral flow tests have been approved by the UK Health Security Agency since 1 September 2021.
Answered by Maggie Throup
As at 28 January 2022, no lateral flow device (LFD) tests from either United Kingdom or overseas manufacturers have been approved under the Medical Devices (Coronavirus Test Device Approvals) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 since 1 September 2021. The UK Health Security Agency is currently reviewing sixteen applications for LFD tests to be approved from applicants with a UK address. Information on the location where the tests will be manufactured is not collected.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to increase funding for mental health research.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). In 2020-21, the NIHR spent £109.5 million on mental health research. While it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions, the NIHR’s funding is available through open competition for mental health and we encourage researchers to submit applications in this area. We are also funding the Mental Health Research Initiative to expand current activity and build the capacity and capability of mental health research in regions which are currently underrepresented.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the financial effect on dementia research charities of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will increase funding for dementia research.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is closely liaising with the Association of Medical Research Charities, as well as individual dementia charities, to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this sector and identify how best the Government and charities can work together to ensure that patients continue benefiting from charity funded research.
The Government remains strongly committed to supporting research to combat dementia. The Government’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 contained the commitment to spend £300 million on dementia research over the five years to March 2020. This commitment was delivered a year early with £341 million spent on dementia research over the four years to 31 March 2019.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Government spent on developing its NHSX contact tracing app.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
To date the cost of developing the National Health Service COVID-19 app is £10.8 million.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance she is issuing to public health officers to take into account a person’s wellbeing and personal requirements under schedule 20 of the Coronavirus Bill.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to public health officers will include guidance on wellbeing and personal circumstances. However, public health officers are trained in taking into account a person’s wellbeing. This will be no different for responding to someone suspected of having COVID-19.
The guidance to public health officers (PHOs) will set out that a PHO should give particular consideration to the needs of people with protected characteristics for example, the needs of children, the elderly, those with disabilities, those with existing medical conditions, those with mental health conditions, those who are pregnant, those who may not speak English, and any other groups on whom the impact of those requirements might be greater than would otherwise be the case. For example, individuals with mobility needs may need to be provided with appropriate accommodation and adjustments made if they are to be placed into supported isolation.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons the Government guidance that over-70s are at increased risk of severe illness from covid-19 differs to the World Health Organisation guidance that identifies over-60s as at increased risk from that disease.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The international data shows that the hospitalisation rate is greatest in the vulnerable, including those aged 70 and older. Asking this group to be most stringent with social distancing is important for reducing the pressure on intensive care beds. The United Kingdom policy in this regard is based on a review of the scientific evidence by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies which is available at the following link:
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what restrictions she plans to place on a person’s (a) movements or travel, (b) activities and (c) contact with others after assessment for covid-19.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On Monday 23 March, new COVID-19 measures came into effect in the United Kingdom. These measures have reduced day-to-day contact with other people in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The new measures include the following:
- Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes;
- Closing of certain businesses and venues; and
- Stopping of all gatherings of more than two people in public.
Individuals suspected of having COVID-19, who live alone, are required to stay at home for seven days from when the symptoms began. After the seven day period, if the individual no longer has a high temperature, they do not need to continue to self-isolate. Every citizen is instructed to comply with these all of new measures.
Further information can be found online at the following links:
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what methods of screening for covid-19 infection are to be used under schedule 20 of the Coronavirus Bill.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
Screening may include requiring an individual to answer questions about their health or other relevant circumstances; produce supporting health documents; allow biological samples to be taken; and to provide suitable tracing information. Only those screening requirements which are deemed as necessary and proportionate will be used.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria will be used to determine the adequacy of assessment facility conditions for screening people for covid-19 infection under schedule 20 of the Coronavirus Bill.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
Assessment facilities will be determined as adequate if there is availability of staff with the clinical expertise to take samples and/or medical history; staff have the relevant protective equipment; they are able to safely take biological samples; and the facility is cleaned appropriately.
A Public Health Officer will advise on what can be considered as a suitable facility including for those who are unable to self-isolate at home and will work with relevant authorities to ensure this.