(8 years, 1 month ago)
Commons ChamberI am sure the hon. Gentleman will bear up stoically and with fortitude under the burden.
Could the Minister now answer the original question? Is he advocating the abolition of national pay scales, because that is what it sounds like he is saying?
(9 years, 1 month ago)
Commons ChamberOrder. A lot of colleagues are still seeking to catch my eye. I want to accommodate them all, but brevity is of the essence. Who will lead us in that important mission? I think that Mr Cryer will do so.
Let us be clear: the Secretary of State is here today not because he is a big fan of parliamentary accountability, but because he knew that there would be an urgent question and he did not want to look as though he had been dragged kicking and screaming to the House of Commons—he is doing a pretty good imitation of that anyway. Will he answer a question that was asked previously: how long has he known about British involvement in military strikes in Syria?
(9 years, 1 month ago)
Commons ChamberThe hon. Gentleman signals from a sedentary position that he has been present throughout the proceedings, so that is on the record.
(9 years, 2 months ago)
Commons ChamberThe hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) is well known for his preoccupation with the health of others.
The Leader of the House may well be aware of the series of crises that have afflicted Barts Health NHS Trust in east London. It is the biggest trust in the country, serving 2.5 million people, and has been the subject of a series of damning Care Quality Commission reports. The situation is not sustainable—it simply cannot go on. May we have a statement on the Floor of the House from the Secretary of State for Health, or perhaps a debate, on that issue?