Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Huppert Excerpts
Wednesday 10th July 2013

(11 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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It is not the party of the people; it is the party of Len McCluskey. They buy the candidates, they buy the policies and they buy the leader. What is Labour’s policy on Royal Mail? It is determined by the Communication Workers Union. What is its policy on health? It is determined by Unison. What is its policy on party funding? It is determined by Unite. It is no wonder that that the right hon. Gentleman thinks like Buddha: he wants to be reincarnated and come back as a proper leader.

Julian Huppert Portrait Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD)
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Q2. Three quarters of a million British people suffer from heart failure, a condition—[Interruption.]

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. However long it takes, the question will be heard.

Julian Huppert Portrait Dr Huppert
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Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Three quarters of a million British people suffer from heart failure, a condition that uses 1 million hospital beds every year. Recent research funded by the British Heart Foundation has found that even low levels of air pollution can significantly increase the risk. Will the Prime Minister commit to meeting European standards on air quality? If implemented, such a commitment could increase life expectancy by up to eight months.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend makes an important point about air quality. We have seen real improvements in recent years, and that makes a genuine difference to public health. Important discussions are ongoing in the European Union at the moment, particularly about car emissions, and I will perhaps write to him about our conclusions on those issues.