Motion· Early Day MotionEDM 217open
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 14 December 2023
That this House notes the shortage of specialist paediatric dentists in the UK and the prolonged waiting times for children's dental procedures; highlights that specialist paediatric dentists provide comprehensive oral healthcare for children and adolescents, including those with special care needs; further highlights that they undergo three years of additional specialist training, gaining expertise in child psychology, growth and development, pharmacology, pathology, oral diseases, and advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures; draws attention to data which indicates that there are only around 200 full time equivalent specialists in paediatric dentistry working in the UK and that, to meet the demands of the population, there needs to be approximately triple this number; believes that this shortage worsens health inequalities, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged children who are more than twice as likely to face oral health issues than those in the least deprived areas; further believes that timely access to paediatric dental care is a fundamental aspect of children's health and wellbeing; expresses disappointment that the recent Government-backed NHS Long Term Workforce plan makes no specific reference to specialist paediatric dentistry; and calls on the Government to urgently address the shortage of specialist paediatric dentists and improve accessibility to dental care for all children.
Motion· Early Day MotionEDM 216open
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 14 December 2023
That this House notes that tooth decay is one of the most common causes of hospital admission in young children, despite the fact that it is a largely preventable disease; expresses concern that, according to Government statistics, as of 2022, 23.7% of five year-olds in England experienced dentinal decay, with notable regional disparities, ranging from 19.1% in the South West to 30.6% in the North West; highlights that, in 2022, children living in the most deprived areas of the country were almost three times as likely to have experience of dentinal decay as those living in the least deprived areas; further highlights that poor oral health in children can lead to school absenteeism and that, as the Government has stated, it can cause pain and infection and affect a child’s ability to eat, smile and socialise; calls on the Government to urgently develop a comprehensive national children’s oral health strategy to secure a healthier future for children in England; believes that such a strategy should be led by the Department of Health and Social Care and that there should be collaboration with other Government departments and a wide range of stakeholders, including specialist paediatric dentists, in developing the strategy; and further believes that the strategy should commit to investing in oral health promotion initiatives, that it should outline clear goals to reduce waiting times and should focus on targeted preventive measures, early intervention, and improved access to high-quality dental care for all children, regardless of socioeconomic status or location.
Motion· Early Day MotionEDM 712open
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 15 December 2022
That this House notes the decision by the Government to close offices of Defence Business Services in Liverpool and Cheadle Hulme in order to relocate staff to a new site at Talbot Gate in Blackpool; expresses concern at the way the Government has handled the process with the decision being initially announced at Conservative Party Spring Conference this year before being formally announced on 2 August; highlights that the new site is not actually expected to be open until early 2026 with the consequence that staff will have to be temporarily based at Thornton Cleveleys once Walker House in Liverpool is closed by November 2023; further expresses concern that many of the staff affected are low paid or have caring commitments which could make it difficult to relocate or commute; highlights the knowledge and skills which would be lost if staff are made redundant or leave and the impact that could have on the delivery of services, including Veteran Services; and calls on the Government to halt the closure of the offices in Liverpool and Manchester and reconsider the decision.
Question· Substantive oral questionUIN 910672withdrawn
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 30 December 2020
What progress he has made on ensuring that (a) new and (b) existing homes are net zero carbon.
Motion· Early Day MotionEDM 1306open
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 30 December 2020
That this House recognises Government guidance states, Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend school; notes that hon. Members cannot underestimate the profound psychological impact that it would have on a child to go to school, come home with covid-19 and infect a family member and for that family member to then die; further notes that for a child to feel that the death of a family member was their fault would be traumatic in the extreme; regrets that the Government does not hold information centrally on the number of school pupils who live in a household with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable; notes that the Association of Directors of Children’s Services estimates that the number of children withdrawn from school for elective home education increased by 38 per cent in England in 2020 and that feedback from responding local authorities to their research indicated that covid-19 health concerns were a primary reason for parents or carers choosing to formally home educate their child in 2020; calls on the Government to bring forward guidance to ensure that children who live in a household where someone is clinically extremely vulnerable are able to learn from home during the covid-19 pandemic if that is what their parents or carers think is best; and further calls on the Government to provide the necessary financial support to schools so that head teachers can facilitate that home learning without having to worry about resource implications.
Bill· Private Members' Bill (under the Ten Minute Rule)Bill 1881open
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 13 July 2016
A Bill to re-establish the Secretary of State’s legal duty as to the National Health Service in England and to make provision about the other duties of the Secretary of State in that regard; to make provision about the administration and accountability of the National Health Service in England; to repeal section 1 of the National Health Service (Private Finance) Act 1997, sections 38 and 39 of the Immigration Act 2014 and Part 9 of the Health and Social Care Information Act 2012; to make provision about the application of international law in relation to health services in the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.