NHS Reorganisation

Michael Dugher Excerpts

Wednesday 16th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lansley]

My right hon. Friend was busy in Sheffield over the weekend, but he might have heard me say on Sunday that where there are legitimate concerns, founded in reality rather than myth, about how we will secure the NHS and its modernisation for the future, we will listen. We have listened and changed the policy before the Bill was introduced. We have already amended the Bill during the course of its passage so far and will always look to clarify and improve it as it proceeds.

[Michael Dugher (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

Will the Secretary of State give way?

[Mr Lansley]

I will give way to the hon. Gentleman, and perhaps he can explain why the Labour party leading the Welsh Assembly Government will cut the NHS by 5% while we are going to increase the budget by £10.7 billion.

[Michael Dugher]

I might be new to Parliament, but we ask the questions and he is supposed to answer them. The Secretary of State knows full well that patient groups, health charities, doctors and nurses oppose the Bill—even that shower opposite opposed it at their conference. Is it not just arrogance on the part of the Government—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo)]

Order. The hon. Gentleman needs to moderate his language. I would grateful if he withdrew the word “shower” and thought of another way to make his point that uses parliamentary language.

[Michael Dugher]

I withdraw “shower”.

Is it not just arrogant for the Government to think that everybody else is wrong and they are right—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. It was not an opportunity to ask another question, either.