Virendra Sharma Alert Sample


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View the Parallel Parliament page for Virendra Sharma

Information between 24th February 2024 - 15th March 2024

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Division Votes
27 Feb 2024 - Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 150 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 179 Noes - 294
27 Feb 2024 - Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 151 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 169 Noes - 306
27 Feb 2024 - Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 151 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 170 Noes - 299
27 Feb 2024 - Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 152 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 171 Noes - 300
1 Mar 2024 - Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 49 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 68 Noes - 15
13 Mar 2024 - Business without Debate - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 141 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 291 Noes - 147
13 Mar 2024 - National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 147 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 170 Noes - 292
13 Mar 2024 - National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) (No. 2) Bill - View Vote Context
Virendra Sharma voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 147 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 169 Noes - 293


Written Answers
Ophthalmic Services
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Monday 26th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling appropriately qualified optometrists to issue certificates of vision impairment.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise that the Certificate of Visual Impairment is an important step in enabling individuals with sight loss to access appropriate support. In England, that certification is currently undertaken by ophthalmologists, who are specialists in eye conditions. No assessment has yet been made of the potential merits of enabling appropriate qualified optometrists to issue certificates of visual impairment.

Heart Diseases: Diagnosis
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to reduce regional variations in outcomes for patients with (a) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and (b) other inherited cardiac conditions.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/

Heart Diseases: Diagnosis
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to reduce regional variations in diagnosis rates of (a) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and (b) other inherited cardiac conditions.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to increase the number of genetic councillors for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Young People
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is taking steps to raise awareness of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in young people.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, along with other inherited cardiac conditions, is included on the National Genomic Test Directory. The directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing, as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing. The directory also enables the testing of family members as part of cascade testing. A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. This is supported by a horizon scanning process and fast track application system to ensure the directory can respond quickly to emerging developments. Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. The National Genomic Test Directory is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directories/

On raising awareness, the seven NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliances also play an important role in supporting the strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities, supporting the achievement of equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, inclusive of genomic testing. They also support clinical genetics and genomic counselling services, as well as raising awareness among clinicians and the public of the genomic testing available through the National Health Service.

Furthermore, the 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not hold specific information on how many people were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2020, 2021 or 2022, although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect 1 in 500 people in the United Kingdom. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiomyopathy/

Heart Diseases: General Practitioners
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps to raise awareness of inherited cardiac conditions among GPs.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are not aware of plans to introduce a national leadership role for inherited cardiac conditions. However, NHS England, through the National Genomics Education Team, also deliver and advise on learning and development opportunities that prepare current and future National Health Service professionals to make the best use of genomics in their practice.

Furthermore, the National Genomic Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing.

This includes the development of resources to support the workforce across the entire care continuum, for example, in the case of familial hypercholesterolaemia this would include the whole multi-professional team, inclusive of primary care. Furthermore, the Genomic Training

Academy will begin offering education and training through virtual and in person learning for the specialist genomics workforce, including laboratory and clinical staff.

NHS Clinical Genomic Services deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages including families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not have any direct plans to introduce self-referral forms for family members of people with genetic cardiac conditions.

Heart Diseases: Genetics
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce self-referral forms for family members of people with genetic cardiac conditions.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are not aware of plans to introduce a national leadership role for inherited cardiac conditions. However, NHS England, through the National Genomics Education Team, also deliver and advise on learning and development opportunities that prepare current and future National Health Service professionals to make the best use of genomics in their practice.

Furthermore, the National Genomic Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing.

This includes the development of resources to support the workforce across the entire care continuum, for example, in the case of familial hypercholesterolaemia this would include the whole multi-professional team, inclusive of primary care. Furthermore, the Genomic Training

Academy will begin offering education and training through virtual and in person learning for the specialist genomics workforce, including laboratory and clinical staff.

NHS Clinical Genomic Services deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages including families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not have any direct plans to introduce self-referral forms for family members of people with genetic cardiac conditions.

Heart Diseases: National Clinical Directors
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to introduce a national leadership role for inherited cardiac conditions.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are not aware of plans to introduce a national leadership role for inherited cardiac conditions. However, NHS England, through the National Genomics Education Team, also deliver and advise on learning and development opportunities that prepare current and future National Health Service professionals to make the best use of genomics in their practice.

Furthermore, the National Genomic Test Directory sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested, the method that should be used, and the healthcare professional that can request the test, including when a general practice can request testing.

This includes the development of resources to support the workforce across the entire care continuum, for example, in the case of familial hypercholesterolaemia this would include the whole multi-professional team, inclusive of primary care. Furthermore, the Genomic Training

Academy will begin offering education and training through virtual and in person learning for the specialist genomics workforce, including laboratory and clinical staff.

NHS Clinical Genomic Services deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages including families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. The Department does not have any direct plans to introduce self-referral forms for family members of people with genetic cardiac conditions.

Visual Impairment
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 27th February 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential economic benefits of reducing the prevalence of sight loss.

Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The benefits of reducing sight loss for both the economy and an individual’s quality of life are clear. That is why prevention, early detection, and timely treatment are essential. In England, over 12 million free National Health Service sight tests are provided annually. Diabetic retinopathy screening is also offered annually to individuals aged 12 years old or over, with diabetes. The Government also has well established programmes on reducing smoking and obesity, both long terms risk factors for sight loss.

NHS England’s transformation programme is considering how eye care services should be commissioned for the future, to improve access to care and patient outcomes. The National Institute for Health and Care Research also continues to invest to support research into the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of eye conditions.

Heart Diseases: Waiting Lists
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Thursday 29th February 2024

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 reduce waiting lists for echocardiograms.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Cutting National Health Service waiting lists, including for echocardiography, is one of the Government’s top priorities. £2.3 billion was awarded at the Spending Review 2021 to transform diagnostic services over the next three years. Most of this will help increase the number of community diagnostic centres (CDCs) up to 160 by March 2025, expanding and protecting elective planned diagnostic services.

As of February 2024, there are 154 CDCs currently operational that have delivered over six million additional tests since July 2021, including large, standard and hub models. 69 of these CDCs are currently providing transthoracic echocardiograms, with 121 CDCs planning to do so by March 2025. NHS England is working to ensure all standard model CDCs include access to a range of cardiac and respiratory tests. As of December 2023, 7,750 echocardiography tests were carried out at CDCs.

NHS England is working to expand the echocardiography diagnostics workforce. Investment has been made in the training of cardiac and respiratory scientists, including significantly increasing the training supply of echocardiographers. An Echocardiography Training Programme has also been developed in collaboration with the British Society of Echocardiography. In the last two years, 130 individuals started on this programme, and it will continue to be used to increase numbers of accredited echocardiographers.

Additionally, NHS England has published guidance on the development of the Physiological Science Networks, including for echocardiography, to support the local coordination and transformation of physiological science services. This guidance provides integrated care boards with improvement approaches to address waiting times in physiological science services.

Heart Diseases: Medical Treatments
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment with NHS England of the potential merits of left ventricular assist devices as long-term therapy for patients ineligible for transplantation.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has a commissioning specification for using ventricular assist devices (VADs) as a bridge to transplantation, or as a bridge to a decision on transplant suitability. The use of VADs as a treatment and destination therapy for patients who are not eligible for a transplant, is not routinely commissioned. NHS England has recently received a policy proposition for use of VADs as long-term destination therapy for selected patients with advanced heart failure. This proposition is currently under evaluation in line with the published Policy Methods Process, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/methods-national-clinical-policies/

Heart Diseases: Waiting Lists
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients are on the waiting list for an echocardiogram.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data on patients waiting for the test “Cardiology – Echocardiography” is publicly available in the DM01 Data set, which can be found in at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/

Clinical Priorities Advisory Group
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many times a year NHS England’s Clinical Priorities Advisory Group prioritisation meetings take place; and what the dates are for each meeting in 2024.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Clinical Priorities Advisory Group prioritisation meetings are held once per year. NHS England aims to hold the next prioritisation meeting on either 20 or 21 of May 2024.

Department for Work and Pensions: Forms
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the forms it issues are accessible to people with limited ability to complete a form by hand.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The department’s forms are designed to be accessible for people who use assistive technology. Our online PDFs are compliant with Work Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 accessible standards. Claim form design and standards are regularly tested to ensure they continue to meet user needs.

DWP seeks to identify individuals who require additional support to enable them to access our services, providing a tailored service and ensuring appropriate support is quickly made available.

Jobcentre Plus provides access to services for claimants who need face-to-face support.

Help to Claim is a service delivered independently by Citizens Advice and in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland, for those who are claiming Universal Credit.

DWP Visiting supports those who are unable to complete requirements through any of the other channels.



Early Day Motions
Monday 11th March

World Water Day 2024

24 signatures (Most recent: 26 Mar 2024)
Tabled by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
That this House recognises that 22 March is World Water Day; acknowledges that 2.2 billion people in the world do not have safe water and 3.5 billion people in the world do not have a decent toilet of their own; notes that two-thirds of healthcare facilities in the 46 least …


Early Day Motions Signed
Monday 18th March
Virendra Sharma signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 21st March 2024

100th anniversary of the Buddhist Society

6 signatures (Most recent: 26 Mar 2024)
Tabled by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
That this House notes the 100th anniversary of the Buddhist Society, one of the oldest Buddhist societies in Europe, founded in 1924 by Christmas Humphreys; further notes that the society presents the major authentic Buddhist schools and traditions holding lectures, classes, courses, and activities in the Therevada, Zen, Pure Land …
Monday 18th March
Virendra Sharma signed this EDM on Thursday 21st March 2024

World Down Syndrome Day 2024

18 signatures (Most recent: 26 Mar 2024)
Tabled by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
That this House celebrates with pride, World Down Syndrome Day 2024, which is a global event that aims to raise awareness, and advocate for the rights of individuals with Down syndrome; marked each year on March 21st, this signifies the triplication of the 21st chromosome that causes Down syndrome; highlights …



Virendra Sharma mentioned

Select Committee Documents
Friday 1st March 2024
Report - Second Report - Humanitarian situation in Gaza

International Development Committee

Found: MP (Conservative, Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale ) Kate Osamor MP (Labour, Edmonton) Mr Virendra

Tuesday 27th February 2024
Oral Evidence - World Health Organisation (WHO), and World Food Programme

Humanitarian situation in Gaza - International Development Committee

Found: Champion (Chair); Dr Rosena Allin-Khan; Mr Richard Bacon; Chris Law; Nigel Mills; David Mundell; Mr Virendra



Bill Documents
Mar. 15 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 15 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 14 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 14 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 13 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 13 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 12 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 12 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 11 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 11 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 08 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 8 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 07 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 7 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 06 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 6 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 05 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 5 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 04 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 4 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Mar. 01 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 1 March 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Feb. 29 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 29 February 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Feb. 28 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 28 February 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra

Feb. 27 2024
Notices of Amendments as at 27 February 2024
Criminal Justice Bill 2023-24
Amendment Paper

Found: Slaughter Sir Stephen Timms Charlotte Nichols Ms Diane Abbott John Spellar Richard Burgon Mr Virendra




Virendra Sharma - Select Committee Information

Calendar
Tuesday 12th March 2024 2 p.m.
International Development Committee - Oral evidence
Subject: The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger
At 2:30pm: Oral evidence
Rt Hon Rory Stewart - President at Give Directly
Jyotsna Puri - Associate Vice-President, Strategy & Knowledge at International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
At 3:15pm: Oral evidence
Ruchi Tripathi - Global Lead on Livelihoods and Resilience at VSO
Dr Diana Onyango - Head of Technical Team at Farm Africa
Dr Rachael McDonnell - Deputy Director General of IWMI, and Senior Program Director Water Systems, CGIAR
View calendar
Tuesday 12th March 2024 2 p.m.
International Development Committee - Oral evidence
Subject: The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger
At 2:30pm: Oral evidence
Rt Hon Rory Stewart - President at Give Directly
Donal Brown - Associate Vice-President, Programme Management at International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
At 3:15pm: Oral evidence
Ruchi Tripathi - Global Lead on Livelihoods and Resilience at VSO
Dr Diana Onyango - Head of Technical Team at Farm Africa
View calendar
Tuesday 19th March 2024 9 a.m.
International Development Committee - Private Meeting
View calendar
Tuesday 26th March 2024 2 p.m.
International Development Committee - Oral evidence
Subject: Alternative Financing Options for International Development
At 2:30pm: Oral evidence
Philippe Valahu - Chief Executive Officer at Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)
Anne-Marie Chidzero - Chief Investment Officer at FSD Africa
Louise Walker - Head of Private Sector & Capital Markets Department at FCDO (MOBILIST Programme)
At 3:15pm: Oral evidence
Ian Mitchell - Co-Director, Europe and Senior Policy Fellow at Centre for Global Development
Romilly Greenhill - Chief Executive Officer at Bond
Evie Aspinall - Director at British Foreign Policy Group
View calendar


Select Committee Documents
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence to the Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy relating to the Blue Planet Fund - 19 January 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Written Evidence - UNICEF UK
SZH0023 - The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger

The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger - International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Written Evidence - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
DIS0025 - FCDO and disability-inclusive development

FCDO and disability-inclusive development - International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence from the Minister for Development & Africa & Permanent and Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State relating to Diversity within the FCDO - 21 February 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Written Evidence - Ripple Effect International
SZH0024 - The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger

The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger - International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Written Evidence - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Annex C)
ARA0004 - FCDO Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Written Evidence - Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director, UNITAID
SIDS0019 - UK Small Island Developing States Strategy

UK Small Island Developing States Strategy - International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Written Evidence - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
SIDS0020 - UK Small Island Developing States Strategy

UK Small Island Developing States Strategy - International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence from the Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy relating to the Blue Planet Fund - 1 February 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence to the Minister for Development & Africa & Permanent and Second Permanent Under-Secretary relating to Diversity within the FCDO - 13 February 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence from the Minister for Development & Africa relating to the outcome of the Public Appointments Process for the two part-time ICAI Commissioners - 9 February 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Estimate memoranda - Memorandum on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Supplementary Estimates 2023-24

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Estimate memoranda - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Supplementary Estimates Memorandum 2023-24: Spreadsheet tables

International Development Committee
Tuesday 27th February 2024
Oral Evidence - World Health Organisation (WHO), and World Food Programme

Humanitarian situation in Gaza - International Development Committee
Wednesday 28th February 2024
Written Evidence - Embassy of Israel
HSG0001 - Humanitarian situation in Gaza

Humanitarian situation in Gaza - International Development Committee
Friday 1st March 2024
Report - Second Report - Humanitarian situation in Gaza

International Development Committee
Wednesday 13th March 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence to the FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary on the Supplementary Estimates 2023-24 - 13 March 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence to the Foreign Secretary regarding the protection of humanitarian personnel in Gaza - 1 February 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary regarding the protection of humanitarian personnel in Gaza - 26 February 2024

International Development Committee
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Written Evidence - Give Directly
SZH0025 - The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger

The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger - International Development Committee
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Give Directly, and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger - International Development Committee
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Oral Evidence - VSO, Farm Africa, and Dr Rachael McDonnell

The UK Government’s work on achieving SDG2: Zero Hunger - International Development Committee
Monday 18th March 2024
Formal Minutes - Formal Minutes of the International Development Committee in Session 2023-24

International Development Committee
Friday 22nd March 2024
Written Evidence - OECD
SIDS0001 - UK Small Island Developing States Strategy

UK Small Island Developing States Strategy - International Development Committee
Tuesday 26th March 2024
Written Evidence - DIS0026 - FCDO and disability-inclusive development

FCDO and disability-inclusive development - International Development Committee


Select Committee Inquiry
28 Feb 2024
FCDO and civil societies
International Development Committee (Select)
Not accepting submissions

In recent years the fragility of civil society has become apparent as political turbulence - for example in Afghanistan and South Sudan - and authoritarian repression have put pressure on civic organisations and structures.

We are now launching an inquiry focusing on the FCDO’s approach to supporting civil society and civil society organisations through its programming.

Terms of reference: FCDO and civil societies

6 Nov 2023
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
International Development Committee (Select)
Not accepting submissions

Following the Committee’s recent evidence session on the humanitarian impact of the recent conflict in Gaza, the follow-up session focused on the current healthcare situation in Gaza and the impact of the UK Government’s response on healthcare in that region.