Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of all scimitar combat reconnaissance vehicles that are no longer in active service.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
It is taking time to collate the information. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to issue a response to the Defence Safety Authority's report entitled fatal accident involving a Scimitar Fighting Vehicle on Salisbury Plain Training Area 15 October 2021, published on 23 November 2023.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
A redacted version of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) Service Inquiry (SI) report following the death of Private Jethro Watson-Pickering from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, in an accident involving a Scimitar Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) on Salisbury Plain Training Area on 15 Oct 21 was published in Nov 23.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investigation-into-the-fatal-accident-involving-a-scimitar-fighting-vehicle-on-salisbury-plain-training-area-15-october-2021
The welfare of our personnel is of the utmost importance and the Army has accepted all 52 of the recommendations in this report. There are however no plans to issue a formal response.
CVR(T) Scimitar is no longer in service; however, where the recommendations are applicable to other in-service armoured platforms, they will be implemented as soon as possible. The Army will review the Coroner's findings when available, to identify any additional recommendations.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on strengthening national flooding preparedness.
Answered by Robbie Moore
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, including future flood preparedness, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. Preparing for flooding in England remains a priority for Defra and the Environment Agency to protect communities.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she has received the correspondence sent by the hon. Member for Halifax on 6 April 2023 with reference ZA35937.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
I replied to the hon. Member’s correspondence on 13 June.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide an update on progress on the feasibility study into the redevelopment of Queensbury Tunnel, West Yorkshire; and whether he has received a final version of the report from Bradford Council.
Answered by Richard Holden
The Department has not yet received a final version of the report from Bradford City Council and will make an announcement on next steps in due course.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide an update on the proposed redevelopment of Queensbury Tunnel.
Answered by Richard Holden
The Department has not yet received a final version of the report from Bradford City Council and will make an announcement on next steps in due course.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendation by the Prison Service Pay Review Body to offer different paid contracts for Prison Officers on Fair and Sustainable rates and closed rates; and what steps he is taking to address disparities between the two pay structures.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
In 2012, HMPPS introduced of a new common pay and grading structure called Fair & Sustainable (F&S) that applied to all new staff who joined the service after 1 April 2012 and existing staff who would benefit from opting into the modernised pay structures. This was a Workforce Policy decision and therefore not determined by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB). There are, however, still a group of staff employed pre-2012 who remain on legacy “closed” grade pay structures. The reason for this is that they would not benefit financially from “opting in” to F&S so they have been allowed to remain on legacy terms. This year, because of the Prison Service Pay Review Body recommendations, the majority of closed grade staff will financially benefit from opting into the Fair & Sustainable pay structures and we will encourage them to do so.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of patients were waiting for NHS treatment as of 30 August; and what was the average waiting time for NHS treatment in August 2023.
Answered by Will Quince
The requested data for August 2023 has not yet been published. The most recent published data showed that the total waiting list for elective consultant-led treatment was 7.57 million in June 2023. For patients waiting to start treatment at the end of June 2023, the median waiting time was 14.3 weeks.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of Ozempic for patients with diabetes.
Answered by Will Quince
We are aware of a supply issue with Ozempic, which has been largely driven by off-label use for weight loss. We have issued guidance in the form of Medicine Supply Notifications and, on 18 July, issued a National Patient Safety Alert which made it clear that Ozempic, which is solely licensed to treat Type 2 diabetes, should only be used for that purpose, and should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.
We have engaged with relevant regulators, and the General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards.
We have also added Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists to the list of medicines that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the United Kingdom.
We are continuing to work closely with manufacturers and others working in the supply chain to help ensure the continued supply of these medicines for UK patients, for example by asking suppliers to expedite deliveries.
We have provided advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine whilst there are shortages and are keeping this under review as the situation evolves. If any patient is concerned about their treatment, they should discuss this with their clinician at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
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 availability of Ozempic.
Answered by Will Quince
We are aware of a supply issue with Ozempic, which has been largely driven by off-label use for weight loss. We have issued guidance in the form of Medicine Supply Notifications and, on 18 July, issued a National Patient Safety Alert which made it clear that Ozempic, which is solely licensed to treat Type 2 diabetes, should only be used for that purpose, and should not be routinely prescribed for weight loss.
We have engaged with relevant regulators, and the General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards.
We have also added Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists to the list of medicines that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the United Kingdom.
We are continuing to work closely with manufacturers and others working in the supply chain to help ensure the continued supply of these medicines for UK patients, for example by asking suppliers to expedite deliveries.
We have provided advice for healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring this medicine whilst there are shortages and are keeping this under review as the situation evolves. If any patient is concerned about their treatment, they should discuss this with their clinician at the earliest opportunity.