Health and Social Care Bill

Debate between Karl Turner and Baroness Morgan of Cotes

Tuesday 13th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Nicky Morgan (Loughborough) (Con)]

I rise tonight to oppose the motion and the amendment. The motion is clear on the e-petition, on calling on the Government to drop the Health and Social Care Bill, and on declining to support the Bill in its current form. I see no mention of the risk register, yet when we debated it several weeks ago the shadow Secretary of State did not want to talk about it; he wanted to talk about the Bill. I shall come to the very confused position of the Opposition on this issue.

I will obviously not support the amendment—that will come as no great surprise to the hon. Member for St Ives (Andrew George)—but I agree with his reference to patients’ organisations. Such references have been missing from the speeches of Opposition Members. I would prefer a reference to patients and service users, because my first point is that the voice of patients has not been heard. Those are not my words, but those of somebody who gave evidence to the all-party parliamentary group on mental health last week. We have not heard the voices of patients in the debate so far—[Interruption.] Opposition Members are welcome to stand to correct me, but I have heard no mention from them of the words and views of patients.

[Karl Turner]

I am obliged to the hon. Lady for giving way. The mere fact that more than 170,000 people have signed the e-petition surely must speak volumes to her.

[Nicky Morgan]

If the hon. Gentleman wants to talk about maths or numbers—

[Karl Turner]

I am not talking about maths.

[Nicky Morgan]

We could talk about the number of people who have taken part in the Royal Colleges petitions.

[Karl Turner]

I am talking about the 170,000 people who signed the petition. What are you talking about?

[Nicky Morgan]

Well, 175,000 have signed the petition, but there are nigh on 60 million people in this country.