Oral Answers to Questions

Bill Esterson Excerpts

Tuesday 12th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lansley]

As we said in the NHS constitution, we do not intend patients to be waiting for more than 18 weeks. [Hon. Members: “They are!”] The April figures show that we met the operational standard, which is that more than 90% of admitted patients and more than 95% of non-admitted patients should be treated within 18 weeks. The right hon. Gentleman’s analysis of waiting times did not include the fact that the average time for which patients waited for treatment in April was 7.7 weeks, down from 8.4 weeks in May 2010. The average time for which patients wait is being reduced.

[Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab)]

2. What assessment he has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the recent report by the Commission on Funding of Care and Support.

[Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab)]

7. What assessment he has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the recent report by the Commission on Funding of Care and Support.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow)]

As the Secretary of State said in his statement to the House last week, the Government welcome the report of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support and will consider its recommendations carefully.

[Bill Esterson]

The Government may say that they welcome the report, but can the Minister explain why the White Paper on social care will now be published in spring 2012 rather than in December 2011, as the commission’s report recommends? Do the Government want it to be kicked into the long grass because of Treasury interference?

[Paul Burstow]

The hon. Gentleman is entirely wrong. The Government’s approach is to have discussions with the official Opposition and to engage fully with stakeholders from Age UK, Carers UK and many other organisations, not just about funding reform—which is an important part of our reform of social care—but about questions of quality and law reform.