Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil Gray and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 8th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

Most parts of the country would say that they need more GPs, which is why we are trying to improve the capacity across the country. So, what have we done? Well, very recently we announced six new medical schools, which will have a specific focus on attracting new students into general practice. That is one of a number of measures.

[Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

12. What recent discussions he has had with Public Health England on the potential merits of introducing minimum unit pricing for alcohol in England.

Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review

Debate between Neil Gray and Jeremy Hunt

Wednesday 21st February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

That was very eloquently put by my hon. Friend. We also want to get closure on this issue, and that means getting the scientific consensus that has eluded us to date. I will certainly mention the Aberdeen research to the noble Baroness.

[Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

The Secretary of State was right to say that patients’ views have been neglected, and that they need to be central to this review. My constituents who have been impacted by Primodos lost faith in the working group’s review, not least because of that concern. How far will this review go? Will it, for instance, look into the fact that there might be a diminished amount of evidence available because the medical records of women who took Primodos were destroyed, including those of my constituents?

[Mr Hunt]

I am happy to do so, but this review is obviously separate from the things that are happening in Scotland. However, we will certainly look at all those issues.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Neil Gray and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 19th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

T4. Last week the Brexit Secretary stated that UK membership of EU agencies is unlikely to continue beyond March 2019, so what provision has the Secretary of State for Health made to replace the European Chemicals Agency, which regulates the raw chemicals required by the pharmaceutical industry to produce drugs in the UK?

[Mr Hunt]

That area will obviously be very important in the negotiations, but we have made our preference clear: a deep and special partnership with the EU in which the benefits of co-operation that we currently have can continue.

Mental Health

Debate between Neil Gray and Jeremy Hunt

Wednesday 9th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

The BMJ was very clear in saying that conclusions about cause and effect should not be drawn, but let me make a broader point about suicide. Suicide rates—under the last coalition Government and the previous Labour Government—have been above and below the 20-year long-term average, but I think they are an important bellwether of the effectiveness of mental health services. I think we should be bold and ask whether we could have a zero-suicide ambition. No country in the world has delivered that, and it would require a big rethink of the way we approach mental health services. Nevertheless, I think that we should be bold and ambitious and think in terms of that objective, and then think about all the factors that may contribute to people being in a highly distressed state and unable to get the support that they want.

[Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

rose—

[Mr Hunt]

I want to make some progress, but I have not yet taken any interventions from the Scottish National party, so I will give way to the hon. Gentleman before I move on.

[Neil Gray]

I thank the Secretary of State. What assessment has he made of the effect of the changes in employment and support allowance, particularly those relating to the work-related activity group, on those who suffer from mental ill health?