Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Farrelly Excerpts
Tuesday 18th October 2011

(13 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Simon Burns Portrait Mr Burns
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My hon. Friend has asked an extremely reasonable question, and I can give him the assurance that he seeks.

Paul Farrelly Portrait Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab)
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PCTs in Staffordshire are pre-empting legislation by merging and reorganising now, which has led to plans to close the high street practice in Newcastle-under-Lyme simply because it is run by salaried GPs. Is that really NHS policy? If not, what will the Secretary of State do to help 5,000 patients rescue a much-needed surgery?

Lord Lansley Portrait Mr Lansley
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Nothing that is being done pre-empts legislation. What is being done in relation to primary care trust clusters is being done under existing legislation, and was necessary not least to enable us to achieve a reduction of £329 million in management costs in the first year following the election. In contrast, there was a £350 million increase in the year before the election under the hon. Gentleman’s right hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham).

I do not know the circumstances of the centre to which the hon. Gentleman referred because the decision will have been made locally and will not have involved me, but I will gladly write to him about it.