Regional Pay (NHS)

Henry Smith Excerpts

Wednesday 7th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Andy Burnham]

I know that many Members want to speak in the debate, so I shall give way once or twice, to ensure that there is time left for others to contribute.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

The right hon. Gentleman is right that it is a national health service that this country enjoys. Why, therefore, is a Labour Administration reducing funding to the health service in Wales?

[Andy Burnham]

I am here to talk about the NHS in England. I will come on to the Conservative Government’s record on funding the NHS in England, so I would not be so smug if I were the hon. Gentleman.

The drive to turn collaboration into competition depends on breaking national standards—breaking the “N” in NHS. The former Health Secretary’s request to the pay review body to consider the case for “market-facing pay” needs to be seen alongside his Health and Social Care Act 2012. Breaking national pay in the NHS is an essential step towards creating the free market in health that many in the Conservative party have long wanted, and which the Liberals now seem willing to let them have.