Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to collaborate with (a) community leaders, (b) faith-based organizations and (c) grassroots initiatives to (i) facilitate open conversations, (ii) reduce stigma and (iii) encourage testing about HIV.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
HIV Prevention England (HPE) is the national HIV prevention programme for England and is funded at £3.5 million over three years by the Department, as part of the Government’s HIV Action Plan (HIVAP).
The programme aims to support communities who are disproportionately affected by HIV, in particular gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men and Black African heterosexual men and women. The Department has appointed Terrence Higgins Trust, a national charity who provide services related to sexual heath and HIV, to deliver the programme from 2021-2024. HPE delivers a nationally co-ordinated programme of HIV prevention work, including public campaigns such as National HIV Testing Week, that is designed to complement locally commissioned prevention activities in areas of high HIV prevalence. HPE also aims to improve knowledge and understanding of HIV transmission and reduce stigma within affected communities.
As part of the HIV Action Plan, we established a community advisory group (CAG) comprised by voluntary and community sector representatives who provide a forum to further enable strengthened partnerships and joint working to help meet the goals, objectives and actions in the HIVAP. They will also provide the HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group (ISG) with advice and expertise on its direction, approach, and outputs in regard to achieving the ambitions set out within the HIVAP. The ISG will consider the advice and, if needed, take appropriate action to ensure we meet our Action Plan’s objectives. Members of the CAG can be found at the following link:
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to create tailored HIV awareness campaigns for the black community.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
HIV Prevention England (HPE) is the national HIV prevention programme for England and is funded with £3.5 million over three years by the Department of Health and Social Care, as part of the Government’s HIV Action Plan.
The programme aims to support communities who are disproportionately affected by HIV, in particular gay people, bisexual people and men who have sex with men and Black African heterosexual men and women. The Department has appointed Terrence Higgins Trust, a national charity who provide services related to sexual heath and HIV, to deliver the programme from 2021-2024. HPE delivers a nationally co-ordinated programme of HIV prevention work, including public campaigns such as National HIV Testing Week, that is designed to complement locally commissioned prevention activities in areas of high HIV prevalence. HPE also aims to improve knowledge and understanding of HIV transmission and reduce stigma within affected communities.
HPE work with a wide range of models and their network of influencers and develops its strategies based on comprehensive data, audience insight and knowledge from local partners within England, which ensure a wide range of patient voices and experiences are represented, including those within the black community. Campaigns are promoted using a multi-channel approach including specialist channels relevant to the audiences and targeting via digital platforms and social media.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure the release of British hostages in Iran.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK does not, and never will, accept our nationals being used as diplomatic leverage. The Iranian Government has put detained British nationals and their loved ones through unimaginably difficult ordeals, and it remains in Iran's gift to release any British National who has been unfairly detained. The Government continues to call out Iran's behaviour, including urging the Government of Iran to stop its practice of unfairly detaining British and other foreign nationals. With regard to individual detentions, our guiding principle is to act in the best interests of that individual. The Foreign Secretary, FCDO Ministers and - where appropriate - the Prime Minister are fully engaged in complex cases and have raised issues with foreign governments.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of graduates of the Fast Stream were (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals in each of the last five years.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
We do not hold data for Fast Stream participants who have graduated in the last five years in respect of free school meal eligibility.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream participants were allocated placements outside of London in the latest period for which information is available.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
In the Spring 2023 rotation, 30.0% of Civil Service Fast Stream participants were allocated placements outside of London.
We do not hold data for Fast Stream participants who have graduated in the last five years in respect of; home location at application stage, school type, or parental education data.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream participants that have graduated from the scheme in the last five years attended (a) non-selective state schools, (b) selective state schools, (c) independent or fee-paying schools with a bursary and (d) independent or fee-paying school without a bursary.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
In the Spring 2023 rotation, 30.0% of Civil Service Fast Stream participants were allocated placements outside of London.
We do not hold data for Fast Stream participants who have graduated in the last five years in respect of; home location at application stage, school type, or parental education data.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of Civil Servants that graduated the Fast Stream in the last five years have (a) parents or (b) guardians with (i) degree-level qualifications, (ii) qualifications below degree level and (iii) no formal qualifications.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
In the Spring 2023 rotation, 30.0% of Civil Service Fast Stream participants were allocated placements outside of London.
We do not hold data for Fast Stream participants who have graduated in the last five years in respect of; home location at application stage, school type, or parental education data.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream participants that have graduated from the scheme in the last five years had a home location at application stage that was (a) outside of London and (b) outside of London and the South East.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
In the Spring 2023 rotation, 30.0% of Civil Service Fast Stream participants were allocated placements outside of London.
We do not hold data for Fast Stream participants who have graduated in the last five years in respect of; home location at application stage, school type, or parental education data.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that specialties such as HIV and sexual health with tariffs are reimbursed within the Integrated care systems framework.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Where delivered by secondary healthcare providers, reimbursement of activities in specialties such as HIV and sexual health is subject to the NHS Payment Scheme rules, which is designed to support the delivery of more and better healthcare within the level of funding available. These services are funded through allocations to commissioners who agree contract values with providers who undertake the activity.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that areas of higher deprivation receive adequate support through the Integrated care systems so that they can continue to deliver preexisting HIV services.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services are open access and any adults with a diagnosis of HIV can self-refer, regardless of United Kingdom address. Any service diagnosing HIV in adults can refer to any specialised HIV service provider. This facilitates equitable access to care.
As set out in the NHS England Roadmap, specialised HIV inpatient and outpatient services have been identified as key areas for greater integrated care systems leadership by NHS England and integrated care boards (ICBs). Integrating the commissioning of HIV treatment services with ICBs, will allow local systems to simplify and strengthen HIV care pathways with other services through effective local partnerships, including in areas of higher deprivation.
The national Service Specification for Adult HIV services is also currently under review by NHS England. The Specification Working Group will ensure that the revised specification reflects any changes in practice since 2013, ensures close working with other relevant services, and is fit for purpose in the new commissioning landscape regardless of the level of deprivation in an area.
As part of the Government’s HIV Action Plan, a retention and re-engagement in care task and finish group was established in 2023. This group will provide advice on increasing the number of people retained and re-engaged in care and receiving effective medical care.
They will present their recommendations to the HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group in due course, who will agree how the advice will be taken forward.