Written questions by Darling.

What steps she is taking to ensure that her Department's assessors are aware of the symptoms of mesh injury.

The Personal Independence Payment and Work Capability Assessments are functional assessments that consider the impact of a person’s disability or health condition, rather than the condition itself. They have been developed considering the needs of people with the full range of physical, mental, and cognitive conditions. The department has not specified that assessment suppliers (ASs) employ health professionals (HPs) who are specialists in specific conditions or impairments. Instead, the focus is on ensuring they are experts in disability analysis, focusing on the effects of health conditions and impairments on the individual’s daily life. HPs have access to guidance and support (such as Condition Insight Reports and Continuous Professional Development modules) on how certain conditions present and how they might affect function. These were developed specifically for HPs, to enable them to gain insight into specific conditions before undertaking an assessment. They contain clinical and functional information relevant to the condition and are usually developed with relevant stakeholders, and quality assured to ensure accuracy from both a clinical and policy perspective. All HPs within the Health Assessment Advisory Service, have access to learning modules specifically relating to mesh injury/implants. There are also opportunities for charities and organisations to engage with ASs, which include forums, to continue to foster good relationships and to help aid the understanding of how conditions may impact on daily life. We expect this engagement to continue.

If he will establish a Cystic Fibrosis task force within his Department to (a) investigate and (b) address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure the supply of essential medicines.

While there are no plans to establish a cystic fibrosis task force, the Department has been working with suppliers to address current supply issues with Creon, which is an essential medicine for patients with cystic fibrosis. Supply issues with Creon are impacting countries throughout Europe and have been caused by limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints to produce volumes needed to meet demand. These issues have resulted in knock-on supply disruptions of alternative pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) medications. The Department is continuing to work with all suppliers of PERT to help resolve the supply issues in the short and longer term. This includes asking that they expedite deliveries, source stock from other markets and increase production.The supplier of Creon has advised that they expect to have regular supplies released each month going forward, and is working to increase the quantities released. Serious Shortage Protocols are in place for Creon 10,000 and 25,000 capsules which pharmacists can use to restrict supply to one month at a time to ensure more patients have access to it whilst stock is limited.We have issued comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals about these supply issues, which provides advice on how to manage patients whilst there is disruption to supply. This guidance is being kept under review and updates will be made, as necessary.

What plans he has to (a) stop the import of oil products refined from Russian-origin crude oil and (b) require proof of origin for such products entering the UK market.

The UK has worked closely with international partners to constrain Russian oil revenues while maintaining energy market security. The Government does not speculate on future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of our sanctions.

Whether she plans to introduce mandatory insurance cover and compliance with IMO heavy fuel standards for oil tankers entering UK territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone.

The government has implemented, and enforces, a range of mandatory environmental measures related to the use and carriage of oil, including heavy fuel oil, by sea. International standards are primarily set out in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), to which the UK is a signatory. Annex I of MARPOL makes provision for the prevention of pollution by oil from ships and includes mandatory requirements such as construction standards for oil tankers, limitations on size and arrangement of cargo tanks, fuel and cargo tank protection, damage stability requirements and a robust survey and certification regime. Compliance with these requirements is enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) through surveys of UK registered ships and Port State Control inspections of non-UK ships when in UK ports. Non-compliance is managed through the detention of ships, prohibition notices and, where necessary, prosecution. The MCA provides the UK’s representation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is actively involved in the development of environmental measures related to the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in ships. In addition, the government has introduced provisions, known as ambulatory reference provisions, within the relevant merchant shipping legislation which aim to ensure that the UK stays up to date with the implementation of international environmental standard and is able to enforce those standards. With regard to insurance, within certain tonnage limitations, UK ships and ships coming to or from the UK must have certificates to prove that they have the relevant compulsory civil liability insurance against oil pollution and liability insurance for the locating, marking and removing of wrecks in the event that the ship causes a pollution incident or is wrecked. Insurers must meet the UK’s criteria to provide appropriate cover and be approved by the MCA before a compulsory insurance certificate can be issued.

What steps she is taking to ensure UK insurers and other maritime service providers verify compliance with the oil price cap for shipping contracts involving vessels potentially linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) supports industry in complying with the Oil Price Cap. On 16 February 2024, OFSI issued updated industry guidance (UK Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap Industry Guidance). OFSI also co-authored a joint G7+ Coalition Advisory for the Maritime Oil Industry and Related Sectors, issued 12 October 2023, and a Price Cap Coalition Oil Price Cap Compliance and Enforcement Alert, issued 1 February 2024. Alongside this, OFSI has also published updated Financial Sanctions Guidance for Maritime Shipping, issued 5 March 2024.From 19 February 2024, the price cap attestation model was updated to require attestations to be shared on a per-voyage basis, as part of a relevant transaction. As well as per-voyage attestations, the new model requires itemised ancillary costs to be recorded and provided to contractual counterparties upon request. These measures were designed to make it easier for good-faith actors to reliably comply with the price cap, through providing greater transparency for UK service providers engaging in the trade and transport of Russian oil.OFSI takes a proactive enforcement approach and is currently undertaking a number of investigations into suspected breaches of the Oil Price Cap, using powers under SAMLA to request information and working closely with our international partners in the G7+ Coalition.The UK has also taken action directly targeting shadow fleet vessels and entities that seek to undermine UK sanctions and facilitate the trade and transportation of Russian oil and oil products. Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has sanctioned 25 vessels and 18 entities and individuals linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, under its ship specification and designation powers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to enhance targeted sanctions against vessels in Russia's shadow fleet; and whether he plans to align his Department's vessel designations with those of the United States.

Since gaining the power to 'specify' individual vessels in May 2024, the UK has sanctioned 25 tankers transporting Russian oil as part of Putin's shadow fleet; a higher number than that undertaken by partners over the same period. This has disrupted Russia's efforts to undermine our oil sanctions, leaving the majority of these vessels struggling to re-enter the Russian oil trade and intensifying the pressure we have placed on Russian revenues. We have also sanctioned five vessels involved in the Russian LNG sector. We continue to step up our efforts, working closely with partners including the US, to ensure effectiveness and impact.

How many Access to Work scheme applications are outstanding (a) nationally and (b) by regional.

The information requested about Access to Work applications that are outstanding by region is not readily available as it is a national service and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. As of 7th October 2024, there were around 55,500 applications outstanding nationally. The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to reducing waiting times for new applications for Access to Work, as well as renewals. We are considering the best way to deliver that for customers. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and have prioritised applications from customers who are about to start a job, and renewals. Please note:The data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution. Applications includes new claims, renewals and change of circumstances.