Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the (a) vehicle-mounted and (b) on-the person (i) mine clearing and (ii) explosive ordnance disposal equipment donated to Ukraine was for (A) clearance in unoccupied territory and(B) breaching Russian minefields.
Answered by James Heappey
We do not comment on the tactical employment of GiK to ensure the safety and security of the Ukrainian service personnel.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many remotely operated minefield breaching systems his Department has provided to Ukraine (a) since 1 February 2022 and (b) before 1 June 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
We have not provided any remotely operated minefield breaching systems during this time period.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Trojan platforms were donated to Ukraine between February 2022 and June 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
We have not donated any Trojan platforms to Ukraine during that time period.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Minefield Breaching Systems were donated to Ukraine between February 2022 and June 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK has provided considerable equipment and training to Ukraine to improve their ability to clear mines. This has included over 1,500 sets of both vehicle-mounted and 'on-the person' mine clearing and explosive ordnance disposal equipment, including necessary training.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
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 ensure the safety of imported food under the Border Target Operating Model.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government’s absolute priority in delivering the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is to protect and enhance food safety, and plant, animal and public health. The BTOM sets outs out a risk-based, proportionate regime of controls which systematically assesses the inherent biosecurity or public health risk presented by an import, together with the prevalence of relevant pests and diseases and our confidence in the exporting country’s production standards and health controls. This assessment allows us to set controls at the most appropriate level and focus on the areas of highest risk to ensure food safety.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the paper in Epidemiology and Infection 2023; 151: e160, entitled Haemolytic uraemic syndrome in children England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland: A prospective cohort study, published on 1 September 2023, if she will take steps to publish more accurate data on the number of cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome identified by the UK Health Security Agency; and if her Department will take steps to increase funding for research into (a) cures and (b) treatments to improve long-term health outcomes for this illness.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) is a notifiable disease and cases are reported on a weekly basis by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The most common type of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli associated with HUS is also a notifiable pathogen, and the number of laboratory reported cases is published on a weekly basis by UKHSA. This data covers England and Wales, and is available at the following link:
The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). As the largest public funder for health and care research, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including cures and treatments for HUS.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether Simon Blagden's status as a Conservative Party donor was taken into account as part of the appointment process for his roles at (a) Building Digital UK, (b) UK Health Security Agency and (c) the Trade Advisory Group for telecoms and technology.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
For all appointments, a declaration of interests is recorded and due diligence conducted on appointees. These appointments will have been decided on the individual’s experience against the essential criteria for the role.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether Simon Blagden's role at Fujitsu UK was taken in account as part of the appointment process for his roles at (a) Building Digital UK, (b) UK Health Security Agency and (c) the Trade Advisory Group on telecoms and technology.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
For all appointments, a declaration of interests is recorded and due diligence conducted on appointees. These appointments will have been decided on the individual’s experience against the essential criteria for the role.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps (a) her Department, (b) the Food Standards Agency and (c) the UK Health Security Agency have taken to help ensure that unsafe food is not placed on the market by companies that were involved in the outbreak of E.coli O157 in August 2020 and August 2022.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and other health protection agencies undertook a thorough investigation of this outbreak linked to fresh produce, which involved the appropriate food safety enforcement authorities for each site involved. A review of food safety management systems provided reassurance that robust controls were in place. Where opportunities for improvement were identified, the FSA along with the enforcing local authorities provided risk management advice to food businesses.
Following engagement with industry trade associations to assess industry practices and approaches to risk assessment mitigation across the fresh produce sector, a multi-agency working group has been formed to review standard practices across the industry.
The UK Health Security Agency undertook a surveillance study which included a retail sampling survey of fresh produce in 2023. Early monitoring of results indicates good safety practices in the fresh produce sector with no evidence of serious public health consequences.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for children and young people to access community paediatric services.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)