Off-patent Drugs Bill

George Howarth Excerpts

Friday 6th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Alistair Burt]

Because I still do not believe fundamentally that the passage of legislation is what is needed in order to reassure people that they have access to the drugs that they need.

Let me make a little progress and deal first with the concerns expressed by the hon. Member for Torfaen about what has happened since last year.

[Mr George Howarth (Knowsley) (Lab)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Alistair Burt]

No, I will not on this occasion, because I have taken every intervention since I stood up and I cannot do my job unless I explain what people are concerned about.

As the Government promised when similar measures were discussed in the House this time last year, we held a round-table discussion bringing together some of the key stakeholders. We looked at what action short of legislation the Government could take.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alistair Burt]

Oh, shroud waving—thank you very much. That’s all we need.

On action flowing from last year, the Government had an extremely useful meeting that brought together the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Breast Cancer Now, the Cure Parkinson’s Trust and Cancer Research UK.

[Mr George Howarth]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Given the context of the Bill, do you not think that the use of the term “shroud waving” is at the very least inappropriate?