Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the High Court ruling that Part 4 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
As with all cases of this nature, we are now carefully considering the judgment in order to determine the best way forward.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Bahrain on allegations relating to (a) human rights violations, (b) arbitrary arrest, (c) prolonged detention without a fair trial and (d) the alleged torture of children.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary last visited Bahrain in October 2024 where he met the Foreign Minister. The focus for that visit was de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and to meet UK personnel working in the region, underscoring our commitment to regional security and stability.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office encourages all countries, including Bahrain, to uphold international human rights obligations. Our close and long-standing relationship with Bahrain continues to allow for a genuine and open dialogue by Ministers and officials in a range of areas, including human rights, on which we also recognise a number of positive steps taken by the Government of Bahrain over recent years.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
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 his counterpart in Bahrain on allegations relating to the detention of minors in relation to peaceful protests.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary last visited Bahrain in October 2024 where he met the Foreign Minister. The focus for that visit was de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and to meet UK personnel working in the region, underscoring our commitment to regional security and stability.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office encourages all countries, including Bahrain, to uphold international human rights obligations. Our close and long-standing relationship with Bahrain continues to allow for a genuine and open dialogue by Ministers and officials in a range of areas, including human rights, on which we also recognise a number of positive steps taken by the Government of Bahrain over recent years.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
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 of the approach taken by the Bahrain Government to (a) pro-democracy protests and (b) social media content critical of the government.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our close and long-standing relationship with Bahrain continues to allow for a genuine and open dialogue in a range of areas, including human rights, on which we also recognise a number of positive steps taken by the Government of Bahrain over recent years. We continue to work with Bahrain to encourage greater media freedoms.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of China's treatment of (a) Falun Gong, (b) The Church of Almighty God and (c) Christian practitioners.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and Christians. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor have all raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts.
More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release of 28 November 2024 entitled, Secretary of State commits to first ever men’s health strategy, if that strategy will consider male incontinence.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 28 November 2024, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced plans for England’s first Men’s Health Strategy, to be delivered this year. The strategy will consider how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men. The strategy will be informed by a call for evidence which will be launched shortly, and the remit of the strategy will be outlined in due course.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
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 adequacy of (a) information and (b) support available to men living with incontinence.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessment has been made. NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence. The guidance states that “pathways of care should be commissioned that ensure early assessment, effective management of incontinence, along with other bladder and bowel problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections and their impact on social, physical and mental well-being.” NHS England will consider the next steps for Excellence in Continence Care, which is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/excellence-in-continence-care/
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence. The guidance aims to improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of people with faecal incontinence.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
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 impact of urinary incontinence on men’s (a) physical and (b) mental health.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No such assessment has been made. NHS England published Excellence in Continence Care on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff. This guidance covers both urinary and bowel, also known as faecal, incontinence. The guidance states that “pathways of care should be commissioned that ensure early assessment, effective management of incontinence, along with other bladder and bowel problems such as constipation and urinary tract infections and their impact on social, physical and mental well-being.” NHS England will consider the next steps for Excellence in Continence Care, which is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/excellence-in-continence-care/
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence. The guidance aims to improve the physical and mental health and quality of life of people with faecal incontinence.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
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 ensure that sanitary disposal bins are placed in men's (a) public and (b) workplace toilets.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers in England. This however does not extend to compelling local authorities with regard to types of waste receptacles or their placement. These decisions are for local authorities to make. Devolved Governments have responsibility for these matters in their jurisdictions.
The Building Regulations for England were updated in 2024 with the addition of a new ‘Part T’ which sets out toilet requirements in new non-domestic buildings in England. Part T is supported by statutory guidance which includes space for disposal bins in the design layouts. However, the Building Regulations are limited to the provision and design of toilet facilities and do not extend to the management and use of disposal bins.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reviewing the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 regarding provision of disposal facilities in workplace toilets. This work is included within the Government’s wider plans under Make Work Pay, and HSE will hold appropriate consultation in due course.
Asked by: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to increase the provision of sanitary bins in male (a) public and (b) workplace toilets.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers in England. This however does not extend to compelling local authorities with regard to types of waste receptacles or their placement. These decisions are for local authorities to make. Devolved Governments have responsibility for these matters in their jurisdictions.
The Building Regulations for England were updated in 2024 with the addition of a new ‘Part T’ which sets out toilet requirements in new non-domestic buildings in England. Part T is supported by statutory guidance which includes space for disposal bins in the design layouts. However, the Building Regulations are limited to the provision and design of toilet facilities and do not extend to the management and use of disposal bins.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reviewing the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 regarding provision of disposal facilities in workplace toilets. This work is included within the Government’s wider plans under Make Work Pay, and HSE will hold appropriate consultation in due course.