NHS

Jamie Reed Excerpts

Wednesday 5th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I will make some progress, because I need to make one final point.

All of these changes cost money, at a time when we are still living with the economic mess we inherited from Labour. None of these changes would be possible without the tough decisions we took on public spending in 2010, all opposed by Labour, which allowed the NHS budget to be protected and, as growth returns to the economy, secured for the long term.

[Mr Jamie Reed (Copeland) (Lab)]

Will the Secretary of State give way?

[Mr Hunt]

No. Had Labour won the last election, the NHS budget would not just have been cut at the outset; it would have been cut and cut again as the country was brought to its knees in a Greece, Portugal or Ireland-style collapse.

[Mr Reed]

rose—

[Mr Hunt]

Our amendment talks about the Francis report, which I know is desperately uncomfortable territory for the Labour Opposition—the 81 times they refused to have a public inquiry; the 50 warning signs missed by Labour Ministers and the officials working for them; the warning signs ignored at countless other hospitals now in special measures.

[Mr Reed]

rose—

[Mr Hunt]

It was a grim saga—

[Mr Reed]

rose—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. Mr Reed, the Secretary of State has repeatedly made it clear that he is not prepared to give way to you, so perhaps we could move on with the debate. Perhaps you will find another way to make your point.