Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to undertake broader consultation with industry to support the delivery of national security objectives.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
During the development of the National Security Strategy, the Cabinet Office engaged a broad spectrum of stakeholders, considered assessments and analytical products from think tanks, academics, industry experts and reports from the Intelligence and Security Committee and the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.
It also brought together several strategies, reviews, and audits developed and being developed by the government. These reviews had their own method of engagement, including with civil society organisations and industry. This includes the Resilience Action Plan which a large number of stakeholders, including civil society organisations, were engaged with to support development and delivery.
To support the delivery of national security objectives, the government regularly engages with industry including the technology industry. For example, this week the Security Minister was in Glasgow at the 10th annual Cyber UK conference, attended by 2,500 cyber security leaders and technical professionals.
Our Modern Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan backing our strengths and realising Britain’s potential. This strategy is an ongoing partnership between business, government, and workers, meeting the needs of business head on. This government has also published its Defence Industrial Strategy, which lays out our new approach, not just to defence procurement, but also how we engage with industry throughout the supply chain. The upcoming Defence Readiness Bill will improve how we work collectively with industry to improve the readiness of our defence sector.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes in the level of fuel prices on farm profitability.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel/gasoil, influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.
Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets throughout the year, including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
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 improve (a) awareness, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of meningitis in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed three cases of meningococcal disease among young people in Weymouth, Dorset. These three cases have been confirmed as meningitis B and are the same sub-strain serotype P1.19, P1.15. The UKHSA has confirmed that these cases are not linked to the recent outbreak of meningococcal disease in Kent.
As a precautionary measure, antibiotics and the Bexsero vaccine are being offered to young people currently in school years 7 to 13, or the equivalent in terms of age, or anyone not in full time education who would be in one of these year groups, who study or live in the Weymouth, Portland, and Chickerell areas of Dorset. The UKHSA and Dorset Council have issued advice to staff, parents, and carers at all educational settings in the area.
The UKHSA is providing support to education settings, in close partnership with the Department for Education. All affected education settings in Weymouth remain open and events involving children and young people should continue as normal. The UKHSA has published up to date information to ensure parents and concerned members of the public can find the latest information on how the incident is being managed and who can access antibiotics and vaccines, which is available at the following link:
Children and young people should attend their education setting normally, unless specifically told otherwise by a health professional. Attendance supports the education, health, and wellbeing of children and young people.
As my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (JCVI) has been asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of meningitis in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed three cases of meningococcal disease among young people in Weymouth, Dorset. These three cases have been confirmed as meningitis B and are the same sub-strain serotype P1.19, P1.15. The UKHSA has confirmed that these cases are not linked to the recent outbreak of meningococcal disease in Kent.
As a precautionary measure, antibiotics and the Bexsero vaccine are being offered to young people currently in school years 7 to 13, or the equivalent in terms of age, or anyone not in full time education who would be in one of these year groups, who study or live in the Weymouth, Portland, and Chickerell areas of Dorset. The UKHSA and Dorset Council have issued advice to staff, parents, and carers at all educational settings in the area.
The UKHSA is providing support to education settings, in close partnership with the Department for Education. All affected education settings in Weymouth remain open and events involving children and young people should continue as normal. The UKHSA has published up to date information to ensure parents and concerned members of the public can find the latest information on how the incident is being managed and who can access antibiotics and vaccines, which is available at the following link:
Children and young people should attend their education setting normally, unless specifically told otherwise by a health professional. Attendance supports the education, health, and wellbeing of children and young people.
As my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (JCVI) has been asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consumers are provided with adequate and clear information on the value of extended warranties at the point of sale.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Manufacturers are not required to provide warranties on their products. Whether they choose to do so and under what terms is a commercial decision for them. Where warranties are given, they are benefits in addition to consumers’ rights against the trader under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires that products are fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality.
Terms of warranties must be clearly communicated to consumers. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions that are likely to impact the average consumer’s transactional decision.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to tackle misleading practices in the sale of extended warranties.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Manufacturers are not required to provide warranties on their products. Whether they choose to do so and under what terms is a commercial decision for them. Where warranties are given, they are benefits in addition to consumers’ rights against the trader under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires that products are fit for purpose, as described and of satisfactory quality.
Terms of warranties must be clearly communicated to consumers. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions that are likely to impact the average consumer’s transactional decision.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out the support currently available to farmers in West Dorset constituency given changes in the level of fuel costs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel and other fuel influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.
The Government’s commitment to farming and food security is steadfast, which is why it has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers with recent changes in the level of price of fuel.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel and other fuel influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.
The Government’s commitment to farming and food security is steadfast, which is why it has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.