Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when (a) he and (b) members of his Department last met with representatives of the betting and gaming industries to discuss improving greyhound welfare.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of British Greyhound Racing Fund’s levy being made mandatory in the context of the statutory levy imposed on Bookmakers by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963.
A: (Nigel Huddleston, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DCMS): In January 2019 the Government announced that it had secured a new funding commitment from five of the largest online bookmakers to help ensure the welfare of greyhounds is protected and improved. This was in addition to the existing voluntary payments made to the British Greyhound Racing Fund from most betting operators that benefit from greyhound racing, which sit alongside commercial deals between the betting and racing industries. In 2019/20 the BGRF collected a total of £8.87m, up from £6.95m in the previous 12 months.
Government has no plans to introduce a mandatory levy and will continue to encourage any remaining bookmakers that have not signed up to the voluntary arrangements to follow suit. The Department has discussions with the betting and greyhound racing industries on a range of issues and expects both to make sure that greyhound welfare is safeguarded and remains at the heart of the sport.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that clinically extremely vulnerable people observing strict social distancing can safely receive a seasonal flu vaccination.
A: (Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care): The flu vaccination programme is a critical part of preparing the United Kingdom for winter. We have been working with NHS England, NHS Improvement and Public Health England on the delivery of the 2020/21 seasonal flu vaccination programme. Operational plans for flu include consideration of the social distancing requirements for vulnerable people, the workforce and providers. Standard operating procedures for healthcare services and guidance on immunisation during COVID-19 have been issued to providers. On 5 August we published the Annual Flu letter 2020/21 update available at the following link.
Q: (Andrew Rosindell) To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of raising the age limit for childcare support bubbles to include young teenagers.A: (Nadine Dorries, Minister of State at the Department for Health and Social Care)
