Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent results have been achieved from medical research conducted by British and Israeli scientists through the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
BIRAX will soon have funded 19 collaborative research projects focused on regenerative medicine and raised almost £10 million of funding, more than 90% of it from research foundations and philanthropic donors. This year a major new initiative, BIRAX Ageing, will launch which will be the main academic research theme for the next 4-5 years.
Principal Investigators presented BIRAX supported research at 71 conferences and workshops to over 21,000 Principal Investigators, postdoctoral students and students across 22 countries including the US, India, China, France, Japan, Germany, Sweden as well as to audiences in the UK and Israel. To date, 27 scientific articles have been published as a result of BIRAX projects and BIRAX funded research has been cited 635 times.
Three of the seven BIRAX projects which concluded in 2016, have registered patents and two project teams have been approached by biotech companies expressing an interest in licensing their intellectual property. Three BIRAX projects have secured further funding for research initiated under the BIRAX initiative.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the publication of the research he plans to commission into the safety implications of tyres on buses and coaches being more than 10 years old.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport is in the process of commissioning research to investigate how the properties of materials used in tyre construction change during a tyre’s life. The purpose of the research is to seek to understand what kind of relationship exists between the chronological age of a tyre and its structural integrity. The research will also consider other ageing effects such as those that occur due to tyre use and maintenance.
We expect the preliminary findings of the research to be available in the autumn of 2018, and would hope to publish a report by the end of the year. The research will address the current interest in bus and coach tyres but, should it produce strong evidence of risk, the findings may well be relevant to other heavy vehicles and possibly to vans and passenger cars.
The Department has made an appropriate budget available with which to undertake this research. The contract should be in place by the end of the year, and once it is finalised details will be listed on the Department for Transport’s website.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what budget his Department has set aside for its proposed research into the safety implications of tyres on buses and coaches being more than 10 years old.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport is in the process of commissioning research to investigate how the properties of materials used in tyre construction change during a tyre’s life. The purpose of the research is to seek to understand what kind of relationship exists between the chronological age of a tyre and its structural integrity. The research will also consider other ageing effects such as those that occur due to tyre use and maintenance.
We expect the preliminary findings of the research to be available in the autumn of 2018, and would hope to publish a report by the end of the year. The research will address the current interest in bus and coach tyres but, should it produce strong evidence of risk, the findings may well be relevant to other heavy vehicles and possibly to vans and passenger cars.
The Department has made an appropriate budget available with which to undertake this research. The contract should be in place by the end of the year, and once it is finalised details will be listed on the Department for Transport’s website.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research he plans to commission into the safety implications of tyres on buses and coaches being more than 10 years old.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport is in the process of commissioning research to investigate how the properties of materials used in tyre construction change during a tyre’s life. The purpose of the research is to seek to understand what kind of relationship exists between the chronological age of a tyre and its structural integrity. The research will also consider other ageing effects such as those that occur due to tyre use and maintenance.
We expect the preliminary findings of the research to be available in the autumn of 2018, and would hope to publish a report by the end of the year. The research will address the current interest in bus and coach tyres but, should it produce strong evidence of risk, the findings may well be relevant to other heavy vehicles and possibly to vans and passenger cars.
The Department has made an appropriate budget available with which to undertake this research. The contract should be in place by the end of the year, and once it is finalised details will be listed on the Department for Transport’s website.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the deaths of two children and a coach driver on 11 September 2012 as a result of the failure of a tyre which was over 19 years old fitted to the coach and of the resulting Traffic Commissioner's Public Inquiry and the inquest into the deaths, whether they have any proposals to introduce legislative requirements relating to the use of tyres of more than 10 years old on public service vehicles.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has no proposals to introduce legislation restricting the use of tyres on the basis of their age.
Expert advice suggests that tyre ageing is a complex issue where use and maintenance are significant factors rather than simply chronological age.
However, applying the precautionary principle, in 2013 the Department distributed guidance to bus and coach operators on how to establish the age of a tyre and advised that tyres over 10-years of age should only be fitted as part of a twin-wheel arrangement on a rear axle. Enforcement staff of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency continue to advise operators if a non-compliance is identified.
The Department consulted with experts from the tyre industry in both the UK and Europe and the free “Guide to Tyre Management on Heavy Vehicles” was produced with the support of the tyre industry and Senior Traffic Commissioner Bell. In October 2016, copies of this guide were sent to every registered bus and coach operator in the country ensuring that, no matter the size of fleet and irrespective of affiliation to a trade association, these important messages reached as wide an audience as possible.
The Department for Transport has gone to the market twice to commission scientific research regarding the effect of chronological age on tyre integrity. These approaches have not been successful in establishing a robust programme of research and the Department is considering how to proceed. Scientific evidence will inform any future policy decisions and the Department will publish the outcome of the research once completed.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will publish research which was planned in December 2013 into ageing tyres on buses and coaches.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In 2013 the Department distributed information to bus and coach operators that provided guidance on how to establish the age of a tyre and gave precautionary advice that tyres over 10-years of age should only be fitted as part of a twin-wheel arrangement on a rear axle. This advice is reinforced by enforcement staff of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency who have been tasked with advising operators WHERE non-compliance is identified.
The Department has sought information concerning tyre ageing from both the UK and European trade associations of the tyre manufacturing and distribution industry. ItS STAFF haVE also attended manufacturing facilities in Northern Ireland and France, and remanufacturing facilities in the UK, to UNDERSTAND THE BEST ADVISED VIEW of tyre ageing within the industry. Expert advice suggests that tyre ageing is related to use and maintenance rather than simply chronological age.
These discussions HAVE influenced the production of the “Guide to Tyre Management on Heavy Vehicles” a free GUIDE produced with the support of the tyre industry, Senior Traffic Commissioner Bell and the Department. It sets out industry-recognised best practice regarding tyre maintenance and provides advice to operators about tyre choice, maintenance and safety. In October 2016, copies of the guide were sent to every registered bus and coach operator in the country.
The Department has gone to the market twice to commission research to establish scientific evidence in this field. These approaches have not been successful in establishing a robust programme of research, and the Department is reviewing these outcomes to establish how to proceed. The Department will publish the outcome of the research once completed.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has had with representatives from the tyre industry on ageing tyres on public service vehicles since September 2012.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In 2013 the Department distributed information to bus and coach operators that provided guidance on how to establish the age of a tyre and gave precautionary advice that tyres over 10-years of age should only be fitted as part of a twin-wheel arrangement on a rear axle. This advice is reinforced by enforcement staff of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency who have been tasked with advising operators WHERE non-compliance is identified.
The Department has sought information concerning tyre ageing from both the UK and European trade associations of the tyre manufacturing and distribution industry. ItS STAFF haVE also attended manufacturing facilities in Northern Ireland and France, and remanufacturing facilities in the UK, to UNDERSTAND THE BEST ADVISED VIEW of tyre ageing within the industry. Expert advice suggests that tyre ageing is related to use and maintenance rather than simply chronological age.
These discussions HAVE influenced the production of the “Guide to Tyre Management on Heavy Vehicles” a free GUIDE produced with the support of the tyre industry, Senior Traffic Commissioner Bell and the Department. It sets out industry-recognised best practice regarding tyre maintenance and provides advice to operators about tyre choice, maintenance and safety. In October 2016, copies of the guide were sent to every registered bus and coach operator in the country.
The Department has gone to the market twice to commission research to establish scientific evidence in this field. These approaches have not been successful in establishing a robust programme of research, and the Department is reviewing these outcomes to establish how to proceed. The Department will publish the outcome of the research once completed.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to commission research into tyre ageing on public service vehicles.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In 2013 the Department distributed information to bus and coach operators that provided guidance on how to establish the age of a tyre and gave precautionary advice that tyres over 10-years of age should only be fitted as part of a twin-wheel arrangement on a rear axle. This advice is reinforced by enforcement staff of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency who have been tasked with advising operators WHERE non-compliance is identified.
The Department has sought information concerning tyre ageing from both the UK and European trade associations of the tyre manufacturing and distribution industry. ItS STAFF haVE also attended manufacturing facilities in Northern Ireland and France, and remanufacturing facilities in the UK, to UNDERSTAND THE BEST ADVISED VIEW of tyre ageing within the industry. Expert advice suggests that tyre ageing is related to use and maintenance rather than simply chronological age.
These discussions HAVE influenced the production of the “Guide to Tyre Management on Heavy Vehicles” a free GUIDE produced with the support of the tyre industry, Senior Traffic Commissioner Bell and the Department. It sets out industry-recognised best practice regarding tyre maintenance and provides advice to operators about tyre choice, maintenance and safety. In October 2016, copies of the guide were sent to every registered bus and coach operator in the country.
The Department has gone to the market twice to commission research to establish scientific evidence in this field. These approaches have not been successful in establishing a robust programme of research, and the Department is reviewing these outcomes to establish how to proceed. The Department will publish the outcome of the research once completed.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that tyres used for public service vehicles do not exceed 10-years of age.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In 2013 the Department distributed information to bus and coach operators that provided guidance on how to establish the age of a tyre and gave precautionary advice that tyres over 10-years of age should only be fitted as part of a twin-wheel arrangement on a rear axle. This advice is reinforced by enforcement staff of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency who have been tasked with advising operators WHERE non-compliance is identified.
The Department has sought information concerning tyre ageing from both the UK and European trade associations of the tyre manufacturing and distribution industry. ItS STAFF haVE also attended manufacturing facilities in Northern Ireland and France, and remanufacturing facilities in the UK, to UNDERSTAND THE BEST ADVISED VIEW of tyre ageing within the industry. Expert advice suggests that tyre ageing is related to use and maintenance rather than simply chronological age.
These discussions HAVE influenced the production of the “Guide to Tyre Management on Heavy Vehicles” a free GUIDE produced with the support of the tyre industry, Senior Traffic Commissioner Bell and the Department. It sets out industry-recognised best practice regarding tyre maintenance and provides advice to operators about tyre choice, maintenance and safety. In October 2016, copies of the guide were sent to every registered bus and coach operator in the country.
The Department has gone to the market twice to commission research to establish scientific evidence in this field. These approaches have not been successful in establishing a robust programme of research, and the Department is reviewing these outcomes to establish how to proceed. The Department will publish the outcome of the research once completed.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the increase in the number of people diagnosed with arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders in relation to (a) funding and (b) public health strategy.
Answered by Steve Brine
The burden of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions is likely to rise significantly due to an ageing population and a combination of obesity and physical inactivity. Individual clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities (LAs) are responsible for the delivery of services to treat and support the prevention of MSK disorders from their respective resources allocation. Where appropriate, some local services may be designed and delivered in partnership between CCGs and LAs.
Whilst not all MSK conditions are preventable, physical activity can play an important part in reducing risk of developing certain MSK disorders and managing MSK symptoms. Regular physical activity that meets national guidelines on frequency and intensity can reduce an individual’s risk of developing joint and back pain by 25% and can improve symptoms for people with MSK conditions.
The Department works with Public Health England (PHE), NHS England and local authorities to promote physical activity. The ‘Providing physical activity interventions for people with musculoskeletal conditions’ report, published in March 2017 is the result of collaboration between Arthritis Research UK, PHE, NHS England and the Department. The report reviews the benefits of physical activity both for people with MSK conditions and wider society and provides a framework that supports a tiered approach to intervention. More information can be found at the following link:
PHE is leading the discussions to engage all partners and stakeholders to prevent, detect and treat MSK conditions at an earlier stage through the use of evidence based interventions. For the whole population, the Government and PHE are also working to promote and support lifestyles that encourage people to make informed healthy choice in their approach to physical activity and eating a healthy diet, in order to promote overall wellbeing as well as reduce their risk of developing MSK conditions and to maintain and enhance bone health.