Ian Byrne MP: written questions
231 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Cataracts: SurgeryDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of the independent sector to deliver cataract surgery on waiting times for (a) cataract patients and (b) patients waiting for other op
Answer: Tackling waiting lists is a key part of our Health Mission and a top priority for the Government, as we get the National Health Service back on its feet. This includes ensuring that patients waiting for cataract and ophthalmology services are seen on time...
Answered 26 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress NHS England has made on developing a mechanism to track, monitor and evaluate independent sector’s impact on the long-term NHS capacity landscape in accordance with the Elective Recov
Answer: NHS England is working closely with the Independent Healthcare Providers Network and the wider sector to ensure we have appropriate mechanisms to track and monitor the independent sector’s impact on the long-term National Health Service capacity landscape...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordOphthalmology: TrainingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many training places there were for ophthalmology in the NHS in each of the last five years.
Answer: The following table shows the number of doctors in training in the ophthalmology specialty in England, in each of the last five years:YearNumbers of doctors in training in the ophthalmology specialty group201955820205632021563202258320235922024610Source: ...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordVisual Impairment: BabiesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of new born babies losing their sight in one eye as a result of insufficient staffing levels at the hospital where they were born in each of the last five ye
Answer: There has been no specific estimate made regarding the number of newborn babies losing their sight in one eye due to insufficient staffing levels. As per the National Health Service newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) screening programme, the v...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordVisual ImpairmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have lost their sight due to insufficient staffing levels after presenting at an Accident and Emergency department in each of the last five yea
Answer: This information is not held centrally. We have launched a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service. A central and core part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce, and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology, a...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma and Macular Degeneration: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14123More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment for (a) wet macular degeneration and (b) glaucoma in (i) England, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) Liverpool.
Answer: The classification codes required to identify pathways where patients may have glaucoma or macular degeneration do not allow for distinction between the two conditions.The following table provides an estimate of the number of patients who have been waitin...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGeneral PractitionersDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help GPs meet the needs of patients.
Answer: The Government is providing £82 million to fund the recruitment of more than 1,000 newly qualified general practitioners, via the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS), so patients can get the care they need.The ARRS provides funding for several ad...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFossil Fuels: AdvertisingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's polices of UN Secretary-General António Guterres's call for every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel co
Answer: The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is responsible for regulating advertising in the UK across traditional forms of media and takes environmental issues into account. The ASA operates independently of Government, and I would encourage the Hon. Membe...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEmployment: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to improve employment support for disabled Universal Credit claimants.
Answer: As part of the get Britain working plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the ...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPakistan: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Pakistan Government on the rights of minority groups in that country.
Answer: We work to protect and promote human rights in Pakistan through our diplomatic engagement and programme funding. The UK will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people as laid down in Pakistan's Constitution and in a...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: StudentsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of student homelessness.
Answer: The Government recognises that homelessness levels are far too high and this can have a devastating impact on those affected. The homelessness statistics show that 4,850 (1.5%) households had an employment status of ‘student/training’ and were threatened ...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGaza: Genocide ConventionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure compliance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza.
Answer: It is the UK's long-standing policy that any determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, and not for governments or non-judicial bodies. This approach ensures that any determination is abo...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordOffshore Industry: North SeaDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policy on new oil and gas fields in the North Sea on his policies on net zero.
Answer: We plan to consult later this year on the implementation of our manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields. The Government’s priority is a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climat...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGaza: Health ServicesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the adequacy of the (a) capacity of (i) hospitals and (ii) primary health care centres and (b) avai
Answer: We remain gravely concerned about the deteriorating health provision in Gaza, particularly in the north. It is unacceptable that northern Gaza now has no fully functioning hospitals. On 5 November, I reiterated this in a call with Israel's Ambassador to t...
Answered 21 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPer- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are within the guideline levels set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Answer: The Drinking Water Inspectorate’s (DWI) current guideline limit on individual types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) of 100 nanograms per litre for treated drinking water was set in 2021 based on an assessment of existing scientific knowledge...
Answered 12 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordLivestock: Animal HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies on animal welfare of the use of cages in farming.
Answer: We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are fully consi...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSlaughterhouses: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that abattoirs adhere to animal welfare requirements.
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) monitors and enforces animal welfare legislation in abattoirs on behalf of Defra. Legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals when slaughtered and Official Veterinarians of the FSA are present...
Answered 12 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEnergy: BillingDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help support low income households with their energy bills.
Answer: The Government believes the only way to protect billpayers permanently is to speed up the green transition towards homegrown clean energy. The creation of Great British Energy will help us harness clean energy and have less reliance on foreign, volatile e...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Myanmar on upholding human rights in that country.
Answer: The UK condemns human rights violations by the Myanmar military, including airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, gender and sexual-based violence, and forced recruitment, including of children. The UK has announced 19 rounds of targeted sanctions, most r...
Answered 15 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13027More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on allowing humanitarian assistance to be delivered in Gaza.
Answer: We are clear that Israel can and must do more to get aid into Gaza. The Prime Minister stressed this in a call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on 19 October, and the Foreign Secretary reiterated this in his call with the then Foreign Minister Katz on 2...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMusic: TicketsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13026More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of dynamic pricing on the accessibility of music gigs.
Answer: We will soon launch a call for evidence on pricing practices for live events tickets, which will include dynamic pricing, alongside a consultation on new protections for consumers on the resale of tickets.
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPrescriptions: Fees and ChargesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13024More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review the prescription charge exemption list.
Answer: There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already i...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordVisas: Digital TechnologyHome OfficeTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13023More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help support (a) older applicants, (b) non-English speakers and (c) digitally excluded people to apply for e-visas.
Answer: The Home Office is committed to ensuring everyone, including the elderly, people with low English language ability and the most vulnerable, are properly supported as we transform our immigration system. People can nominate a ‘helper’ and give them limited...
Answered 14 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: ParkingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of private companies that manage NHS car parks.
Answer: No assessments have been made of the potential merits of eliminating car-parking charges for National Health Service patients and staff, the adequacy of Blue Badge parking spaces, or the effectiveness of the private companies that manage NHS car parks.All...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: Blue Badge SchemeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 6 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of Blue Badge parking spaces at NHS facilities.
Answer: No assessments have been made of the potential merits of eliminating car-parking charges for National Health Service patients and staff, the adequacy of Blue Badge parking spaces, or the effectiveness of the private companies that manage NHS car parks.All...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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