NHS

Baroness Primarolo Excerpts

Wednesday 5th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con)]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. In response to yesterday’s sensitive statement on Sri Harmandir Sahib, the shadow Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Mr Alexander), made a point about documents pertaining to Lady Thatcher not being released. In fact, they were released back in January. I would appreciate your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker, as this is a very sensitive matter, and I would hate to see it politicised.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for notice of his point of order, but this is a matter for the right hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Mr Alexander), whom I understand he notified of his intention to raise it in the Chamber. It is not a point of order for the Chair, but he has got his concerns on the record, and I think he will have to leave it at that for today.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Reed]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. Mr Reed, the Secretary of State has repeatedly made it clear that he is not prepared to give way to you, so perhaps we could move on with the debate. Perhaps you will find another way to make your point.

[Mr Hunt]

I think that that demonstrates, Madam Deputy Speaker, how much the Labour Opposition do not like hearing about the failings at Mid Staffs.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. I say to the Secretary of State that actually it does not indicate anything except that you do not wish to give way to the hon. Gentleman. So, return to your speech.

[Mr Hunt]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. We will all draw our own conclusions about why the Opposition are using these tactics, but I want to offer the Opposition today, a year after the Francis report, a chance to draw a line under this whole tragedy. I as Secretary of State am happy to move on from Mid Staffs in terms of the debates in this House if the Opposition pass three tests: to tell Labour in Wales to do a Keogh-style mortality review so that we deal with the poor safety in Welsh hospitals, just as we are doing in England; to apologise to the relatives and survivors of Mid Staffs not just for what happened, but for the policy mistakes that led to what happened; and to commit Labour to more compassionate, safer care in the NHS by promising never to accuse those who highlight problems of “running down the NHS”, and instead to support every whistleblower and concerned member of the public when they raise concerns. Do that, and the world will know that Labour has changed; but fail to do it, and the country will know for sure that the NHS is simply not safe in Labour’s hands.

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. Many Members wish to speak. I am not going to set a time limit at the beginning, but I ask each Member to take no longer than eight minutes, including interventions. If Members take more time than that, it will be necessary to place a time limit on all contributions.

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. I remind Members who wish to speak that I asked each Member to take eight minutes including interventions and without compensating for the time lost so that we could fit everybody in. We are in danger of being unable to fit everybody in because people are running over their time, so I remind Members to help each other out. If they are unable to, we might need a time limit, but I think we should be able to avoid that.