Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That was a considerable essay to which a pithy but comprehensive response is expected. The House seeks it.

[George Freeman]

I admire the hon. Gentleman’s chutzpah but it ill behoves him to talk to us about privatisation; it was his party that led to the increases and it is this Government who have stopped it, and he needs to acknowledge that. On the facts, in December the NHS in England performed more than 130,000 more diagnostic tests compared with December 2013. I note that he did not talk about Wales, where 24% of patients have waited more than eight weeks for their diagnostic test—the comparative figure is 2% of patients in England.

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The question was about Chester, so there was no particular reason to talk about Wales.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Thursday 11th September 2014 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman]

It is a bit rich for Opposition Members to talk about cuts when we have protected the science budget. We inherited one of the worst crises in the public finances, and we have a duty to correct it.

This country is internationally respected for the level of scientific advice that we put into policy making. Across the board—on badgers, on genetic modification, and on all the other difficult issues that we face—we are basing policy on the best scientific advice. [Interruption.] It ill behoves Opposition Members to criticise our approach. They set the standard in taking advice from spin doctors; we take advice from scientists.

[Mr Speaker]

I have a sense that the hon. Member for Brent North (Barry Gardiner) feels an Adjournment debate application coming on.

Patient Safety

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Tuesday 24th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. For the benefit of the public—it is important that they find our proceedings intelligible—I should say that these exchanges are taking place because an urgent question was submitted and because I granted it. That is the beginning and the end of the matter.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

After the shocking events at Mid Staffs under the last Government, I would like to congratulate the Secretary of State on his crusade for accountability and transparency as the best disinfectant, as shown by his support for whistleblowers and for 4,000 additional nurses. Does he agree that the collection, monitoring and day-to-day use of data on health outcomes is absolutely key? I welcome his Minister’s support for measures in my ten-minute rule Bill, now adopted and sponsored by me and my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy).

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Tuesday 26th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

I congratulate the Minister and the Government on the work that is being done to integrate social and NHS care. Does my hon. Friend agree that, for the many elderly patients moving between hospital care and community social care, integrated patient records across the two areas will significantly improve elderly care? Will he meet me and campaigners following Health questions to discuss my ten-minute rule Bill?

[Mr Speaker]

The link is a strained and tenuous one, but carry on.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Thursday 10th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

Schools across Britain recently celebrated world milk day—milk is produced by cattle, Mr Speaker—which I saw for myself when I visited Pavilion nursery school in Attleborough, Mid Norfolk. I am sure that hon. Members on both sides of the House applaud that initiative as a key opportunity to highlight the benefits of milk as the health drink, and the enormous pressures facing the UK dairy sector, not least the threat of TB in cattle. What steps will my right hon. Friend take to ensure that the dairy market is working properly for consumers, processers and farmers?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That was an extraordinarily strained attempt on the part of the hon. Gentleman to shoehorn his personal pre-occupations into Question 2, but the Secretary of State is a dextrous fellow, and I dare say he can respond pithily.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Wednesday 17th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are extremely obliged to the Minister.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

4. What plans she has to support the application of agricultural science, research and innovation in developing economies.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Tuesday 12th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call George Freeman.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

Question 19, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

No, I was taking the hon. Gentleman on Question 18. Does he wish to come in on Question 18?

[George Freeman]

I was going to come in on Question 19, Sir.

[Mr Speaker]

I am extremely grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s generosity, but I am afraid we are not going to take Question 19. We are moving on. [Hon. Members: “Shame!”] Oh, go on, then. I am not going to ruin the hon. Gentleman’s day.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

19. What assessment he has made of the effect of measures he announced in the 2010 and 2011 Budgets.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Tuesday 6th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The shadow Chancellor is perfectly free to decide not to speak when he is on his feet, but that does not mean that instead he can speak from his seat.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

On behalf of my constituents, I welcome the news that the economy has returned to growth, and I draw the Minister’s attention to the success in the life sciences sector. Eli Lilly has announced a new early-stage neuroscience facility in the UK, Johnson and Johnson has made Britain the home of its new global innovation centre, and more than £1 billion has been raised this year in early stage funds. Is that not the only sustainable route to a really balanced recovery?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Thursday 6th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I gently remind the House that we have a lot of questions to get through, so some pithiness would be appreciated.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

Does the Secretary of State agree that what the small business sector in this country needs is confidence, not carping from those on the Opposition Benches? The fact that the Government have created over 900,000 jobs since the election suggests they are doing a lot of good. Does he also agree that the World Economic Forum report of this week showing that Britain’s competitiveness has risen from 10th to eighth in the world league, because, it says, of our more efficient labour market reforms, suggests we are doing exactly the right thing?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Thursday 8th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman]

I welcome that announcement. Does the Minister agree that the investment of £50 million in a world-class hub is testament to the Government’s serious commitment to a rebalanced economy and a regional growth strategy? Will he agree to place a sample of graphene—like this—in the Library for the edification of us all?

[Mr Speaker]

The use of such props is on the whole discouraged, but we will let the hon. Gentleman off on this occasion.

Public Service Pensions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Wednesday 2nd November 2011 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

I welcome the statement and congratulate the Front-Bench team on the work they have done to go as far as they can to help the low-paid. Is it not the truth that we are facing a crisis of spiralling costs from an irresponsible boom in the public sector under the last Government—with unfunded pension liabilities, bankrupt public finances and debt interest set to rise to £76 billion? Is it not the truth that it is always the poorest that pick up the bills for Labour and that a responsible—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The trouble with Members crafting their questions word for word is that they tend to be rather long.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Monday 28th February 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We need to speed up from now on. Questions and answers are simply too long.

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

2. What steps the Government are taking to encourage local authorities to promote sustainable rural development through an integrated approach to employment and housing in rural communities.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Freeman and John Bercow

Tuesday 16th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)]

Does the Minister agree that it is appallingly disingenuous of Labour Members to posture as the friends of child savings, having left every man, woman and child in this country with debts of more than £22,000 each?

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Minister, who is a dexterous Minister, will relate her answer to the policy of the Government, not that of the Opposition.