Business of the House Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Alan Reid Excerpts
Thursday 20th November 2014

(9 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Hague of Richmond Portrait Mr Hague
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The House regularly debates health matters, when issues from across the country can be raised. As I mentioned earlier, we have questions to the Secretary of State for Health next Tuesday, when there will be an opportunity to raise such issues, but I think that it has to be borne in mind that under this Government we have seen the number of nurses go up by 2,500 and the number of doctors go up by almost 8,000, so very important improvements are taking place in our health service.

Alan Reid Portrait Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)
- Hansard - -

The Post Office card account contract between the Department for Work and Pensions and Post Office expires at the end of next March. It was used to pay out pensions and benefits. I hope the card account will be replaced by a Post Office product that has more facilities, but time is clearly running out. May we have an urgent statement from the DWP regarding its intentions for the contract?

Lord Hague of Richmond Portrait Mr Hague
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

No decision has yet been made on the future of the Post Office card account contract, but discussions are taking place between DWP, Post Office Ltd and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, considering the future needs of customers beyond 2015. Further announcements will be made once a decision has been reached.