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 ensure that suitable stockpiles of essential medications are available to the NHS to limit the effects of production shortages.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Whilst stock of a small number of medicines is held by the Government, for example as a result of COVID-19 preparedness, stockpiling essential medicines centrally is not a tool that the Department uses to limit the effects of production shortages. While we can’t always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of well-established processes and tools to manage them when they do arise, to mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to accept people with dietary allergies into the armed forces.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Department is assessing current policies and identifying those which obstruct individuals from joining the Armed Forces. It is essential that new entrants to the Armed Forces are medically fit to meet the various challenges of Service life and the roles in which they will be expected to deploy.

Candidates with mild or moderate allergies are currently able to join the Armed Forces providing they meet certain criteria. Candidates with severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis and those who require an adrenaline auto-injector, are currently unable to join the Armed Forces as it is not possible to guarantee avoidance of allergen cross-contamination throughout a Service career, especially when on operations, or rapid access to life-saving treatment.

If an application is rejected on medical grounds, a candidate can appeal the decision with additional medical information. There is also an executive waiver process where the employing Service may, exceptionally, recruit someone who is below the normal entry standards.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will extend Orchestra Tax Relief to choirs.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The creative industries play a key role in driving economic growth. The Government is committed to supporting them as part of its plan to fix the foundations of the economy.

Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) provides tax relief at a rate of 50% on production costs. To qualify for the relief, a concert must be performed by a group of at least 12 instrumentalists. Concerts with a vocal element, including a choir, may be eligible provided that the instrumentalists are the primary focus.

These rules help ensure OTR fulfils its objective of supporting and incentivising orchestra concerts specifically. The Government keeps the tax system under review and any changes will be announced at a fiscal event.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with West Midlands Police on the protection of Sikh separatist activists.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion, or belief, and being a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right.

Any attempt to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK will not be tolerated. Wherever we identify such threats, we will use all measures, including through our world-class intelligence services, to mitigate risk to individuals.

Police forces are operationally independent of Government. Therefore, the Home Office does not comment on operational decisions taken by the Police, including, any decisions taken by the police to issue protective security advice.

The Blue Book of Protective Security is available to anyone who would like to improve their personal security, for whatever reason, and is freely available on the Protect UK website.Anyone who is concerned for their safety should contact the police in the first instance.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a review of the antisocial use of fireworks in residential areas.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour, including the misuse of fireworks.

To inform any future decisions on the legislative framework the Government will continue to engage with stakeholders to gather evidence on the issues raised by the antisocial use of fireworks, and consider any further steps that need to be taken to tackle the problem.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on mitigating the potential impact of closing Scottish visitor centres.

Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland

The UK Government recognises the substantial contribution the Scottish tourism industry makes to the UK visitor economy. We are committed to working with industry to strengthen the future of this key sector.

While tourism is devolved, we work closely with the Scottish Government and its agencies to ensure that the sector thrives. This Government will also continue to encourage tourism across the whole of Scotland through our Brand Scotland work to promote Scotland around the world.

Emergency care

Bus fare cap

Bus fare cap hike

Social care workers and National Insurance

Rural Crime Action Week 2024

Release of Emily Damari

Israeli Knesset decision to ban UNRWA

Found: _3 Pippa Heylings Susan Murray .

Found: Not called _3 Pippa Heylings Susan Murray .

Submit Evidence (by 5 Jan 2025)

This inquiry will examine the framework for fiscal devolution in Scotland. The Committee will evaluate the effectiveness of the Barnett formula and the fiscal framework in calculating the amount of money available for providing devolved services in Scotland. As part of this, the Committee will examine the interaction between UK Government fiscal events and in-year budgetary changes, and the impact they can have on the funding of Scotland's public services.