Point of Order
Debate between Caroline Nokes and Freddie van Mierlo
Freddie van Mierlo (Henley and Thame) (LD)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On 2 June, my hon. Friends the Members for Didcot and Wantage (Olly Glover), for Oxford West and Abingdon (Layla Moran), for Bicester and Woodstock (Calum Miller) and for Witney (Charlie Maynard) and I sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care concerning the decommissioning of important mental health services in Oxfordshire, including: the Infant-Parent Perinatal Service, the Child and Adolescent Harmful Behaviour Service, and the Family Assessment and Safeguarding Service. We invited the Secretary of State to exercise powers under the Health and Care Act 2022 to call in the decision. I am aware that there is a 20-day timeframe for ministerial responses to Members’ correspondence. However, that has passed. Normally when this occurs, I tend not to chase it, but this is a really important time-sensitive case, so I seek your guidance on how we may receive a response from the Department.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)
I thank the hon. Member for his point of order. This is a matter for Government Ministers rather than the Chair, but Ministers are expected to provide timely responses to correspondence from Members. I have no doubt that those on the Front Bench will be able to pass his concerns on to the relevant Minister, and the hon. Member will have the opportunity to raise the issue with the Leader of the House at business questions tomorrow.