Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Trade Remedies Authority’s recent recommendation to remove anti-dumping measures on e-bikes from China and the potential impact on the UK cycle manufacturing industry.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK applies separate anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on imports of Chinese e-bikes. The Trade Remedies Authority is currently conducting transition reviews of both measures and I therefore cannot comment further. Relevant information will be published on the Trade Remedies Authority’s public file as both reviews progress.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Trade Remedies Authority's recommendation to remove anti-dumping measures on e-bikes on the UK Cycle Manufacturing Industry.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK applies separate anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on imports of Chinese e-bikes. The Trade Remedies Authority is currently conducting transition reviews of both measures and I therefore cannot comment further. Relevant information will be published on the Trade Remedies Authority’s public file as both reviews progress.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
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 potential disparities in access to prostate cancer screening among men of different (a) races and (b) socio-economic statuses.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended by the UK National Screening Committees (UK NSC). This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test, called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).
The UK NSC is carrying out an evidence review of prostate cancer screening which includes looking at the evidence for targeted screening of specific high-risk groups, such as Black Men and those with a family history. This will determine whether a PSA test-based screening programme for high-risk groups could provide more good than harm.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
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 the informed choice framework for prostate cancer screening.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended by the UK National Screening Committees. This is because of the inaccuracy of the current best test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).
The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme provides general practitioners with information and guidance to counsel men who have no symptoms about the potential benefits and harms of PSA testing so they can make an informed decision about whether to have the test.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the free legal support available to people from Hong Kong who are resident in the UK under the British National (Overseas) visa.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This department funds a network of Welcome Hubs across the UK, as part of the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme. Welcome Hubs coordinate and facilitate regional support for BN(O)s, including helping them to understand and connect to local services in their area, which can include support with accessing legal advice. Information on the support that is available from each Welcome Hub can be found on its website. Welcome Hub websites can be found here.
The Citizens Advice Bureau also offer advice on finding free or affordable legal help.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many cases of TV licence fraud there were in the last year.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government does not hold information on ‘TV licence fraud’.
The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee. The BBC’s annual Television Licence Fee Trust Statement provides an estimated evasion rate, which is the predicted number of households required to have a TV licence that do not hold one. The estimated evasion rate for 2023/2024 is 11.3%.
The BBC’s Television Licence Fee Trust Statement for the year ending 31 March 2024 can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a0fda0fc8e12ac3edb03e3/E03119946_-_HC_xxx_BBC_Wales_-_Licensing_Fee_Trust_Statement_ARA_23-24_Accessible.pdf
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the regulations on the duration an estate agent can leave a to let or for rent sign outside a property that is no longer on the market.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has not undertaken a formal assessment of the adequacy of the regulations on the duration an estate agent can leave a to let or for rent sign outside a property that is no longer on the market. We are not aware of widespread concerns about this issue.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of the previous Government's spending on local advertising campaigns for (a) Brexit, (b) trade and (c) Covid-19 between 2019 and 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office has not made assessments on the local advertising spend for Brexit, trade and Covid-19.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety of talc in cosmetic products.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Talc is permitted for use in cosmetics. However, to be sold on the UK market, cosmetics must undergo a safety assessment performed by a qualified safety assessor. The assessment is then reviewed by the manufacturer’s nominated “Responsible Person”, whose role is to ensure that cosmetics are safe and comply with the law.
If an unacceptable health risk is identified with talc, its status as a permitted ingredient in cosmetic products will be reviewed. The Office for Product Safety and Standards work with local enforcement authorities to take effective enforcement action where products are identified as not meeting the safety requirements.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
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 the full implementation of (a) equal access to IVF treatment for LGBTQ+ people and (b) the entire Women's Health Strategy.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. Organisations are expected to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, which are based on the clinical evidence of the most effective treatment. The Department will be working with NHS England to support ICBs to improve the current National Health Service offer for patients.
The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health, and we are considering how to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy for England. We will prioritise women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future, and women’s equality will be at the heart of our missions.