Points of Order

Barbara Keeley Excerpts

Monday 21st June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

The right hon. Gentleman has put his point on the record. It is not a matter for me, but I am sure that it will be read tomorrow.

[Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. At 9.25 this morning, the Department of Health announced a major revision of the NHS operating framework, and the story ran in the media all morning. I checked repeatedly for a written ministerial statement; it did not appear. There was no copy of the announced changes until 12.40 pm, more than three hours later. The statement deals with major changes in health policy, including the removal of guaranteed access to a general practitioner and the guaranteed 18-week waiting time for hospital treatment, and the lowering of the threshold of four-hour waits at accident and emergency. Should there not have been an oral statement to the House on these major NHS policy changes, not a written statement issued three hours late?

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

That matter is now on the record. If the hon. Lady were to table an urgent question, I am sure it would be considered through the usual channels.