Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will facilitate a vote on proposals for financial redress contained in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024.
Answered by Lucy Powell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Government is taking the necessary time to properly review and consider the Ombudsman's report, given the significance and complexity of the issue. Once the Government has outlined its approach, opportunities for the House to debate this matter would be considered in the usual way.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in the Welsh Government on taking steps to help tackle livestock worrying.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State has spoken to his Welsh counterpart on a range of issues.
The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area to ensure that livestock are suitably protected. We will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) drug prices, (b) appliance prices and (c) fees paid to pharmacy contractors in the NHS Drug Tariff.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department undertakes a quarterly assessment of the adequacy of drug prices paid to community pharmacies through the medicine margin survey. The survey samples independent pharmacy contractors’ sales invoices for the medicines they dispense, and compares the amount paid with the amount reimbursed by the National Health Service. This has found that more than the amount agreed as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework has been delivered in total across the previous four financial years. Suppliers of appliances can optionally apply for an annual price increase on the NHS Drug Tariff. Fees in the tariff are routinely reviewed and updated when appropriate.
Medicine costs are considered as part of ongoing broader assessments of the financial health of the sector. However, if the selling price of a product goes above the reimbursement price in a given month, pharmacy contractors can request an increase to the reimbursement price from the Department via Community Pharmacy England. Where an increase is granted, this new price is known as a concessionary price. This ensures that that the reimbursement prices set are reflective of real time market selling prices, and means that pharmacy contractors are paid fairly for the medicines they dispense.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help community pharmacies with increases in the cost of medications.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department undertakes a quarterly assessment of the adequacy of drug prices paid to community pharmacies through the medicine margin survey. The survey samples independent pharmacy contractors’ sales invoices for the medicines they dispense, and compares the amount paid with the amount reimbursed by the National Health Service. This has found that more than the amount agreed as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework has been delivered in total across the previous four financial years. Suppliers of appliances can optionally apply for an annual price increase on the NHS Drug Tariff. Fees in the tariff are routinely reviewed and updated when appropriate.
Medicine costs are considered as part of ongoing broader assessments of the financial health of the sector. However, if the selling price of a product goes above the reimbursement price in a given month, pharmacy contractors can request an increase to the reimbursement price from the Department via Community Pharmacy England. Where an increase is granted, this new price is known as a concessionary price. This ensures that that the reimbursement prices set are reflective of real time market selling prices, and means that pharmacy contractors are paid fairly for the medicines they dispense.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
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 potential impact of medication costs on community pharmacies.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department undertakes a quarterly assessment of the adequacy of drug prices paid to community pharmacies through the medicine margin survey. The survey samples independent pharmacy contractors’ sales invoices for the medicines they dispense, and compares the amount paid with the amount reimbursed by the National Health Service. This has found that more than the amount agreed as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework has been delivered in total across the previous four financial years. Suppliers of appliances can optionally apply for an annual price increase on the NHS Drug Tariff. Fees in the tariff are routinely reviewed and updated when appropriate.
Medicine costs are considered as part of ongoing broader assessments of the financial health of the sector. However, if the selling price of a product goes above the reimbursement price in a given month, pharmacy contractors can request an increase to the reimbursement price from the Department via Community Pharmacy England. Where an increase is granted, this new price is known as a concessionary price. This ensures that that the reimbursement prices set are reflective of real time market selling prices, and means that pharmacy contractors are paid fairly for the medicines they dispense.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on livestock worrying.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers.
We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area to ensure that livestock are suitably protected. We will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle livestock worrying.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers.
We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area to ensure that livestock are suitably protected. We will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the potential cost to farmers of dog attacks on farm animals in the last 12 months.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not collect its own data on the cost of dog attacks on farm animals to farmers. However, the National Farmers’ Union approximates that UK farm animals worth an estimated £2.4million were severely injured or killed by dogs in 2023.
The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area to ensure that livestock are suitably protected.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion Preseli)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on violence against Palestinian civilians.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are clear that International Humanitarian Law and the rules-based order must be upheld, and civilians protected. From the Prime Minister down, we have repeatedly urged Israel to improve aid access, minimise civilian casualties and engage seriously with negotiations for a ceasefire deal.
Given the grave concerns about the conduct and consequences of the war in Gaza for civilians, on day one in office, the Foreign Secretary commissioned a thorough review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law. The review concluded that there is a clear risk that some items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as part of Israel's military operations in Gaza, and - in line with domestic legislation - suspended these exports. The Foreign Secretary set out this decision to the House on 2 September. The Foreign Secretary spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Katz on 2 September, and on 3 September spoke with Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, to discuss the UK's review of export licenses.
The Government will continue to use every diplomatic lever to bring about a ceasefire. It is clear that a ceasefire would not only protect civilians in Gaza, but also pave the way for wider de-escalation and bring much needed stability for the Middle East.