Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Nick Smith Excerpts
Thursday 13th October 2011

(13 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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My hon. Friend is quite right. There was a written ministerial statement earlier this week reminding everybody that cold weather payments are £25 a week when activated. Those payments complement the winter fuel payments, the green deal and other measures we are taking to reduce the costs of energy. There is also work going on to increase transparency and the ease with which people can switch from one supplier to another. I would welcome such a debate.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
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May I press the Leader of the House and ask him whether we may please have a statement on NHS care for the elderly? As he knows, today’s Times describes it as

“a scandal that is getting worse”.

The House should discuss this as soon as possible.

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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I agree with what the hon. Gentleman says, and other hon. Members have raised the reports in today’s press regarding the Care Quality Commission investigation into a number of hospitals. I would welcome such a debate, and I suggest that he should approach the Backbench Business Committee to see whether it might find time for one.