Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Ben Gummer

Wednesday 22nd March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Ben Gummer]

I am as concerned as the hon. Gentleman will be. That is why we need to make sure that the independence of our statistics machine, to which other countries look for advice, is shown to the public to be the best in the world. That is what it is.

[Seema Kennedy (South Ribble) (Con)]

T7. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on the progress made on the race disparity audit?

[Ben Gummer]

We have made considerable progress. According to our original timetable, we will be able to release the results of the first part later this year. That will be a moment of reckoning for this country, as we face up to the serious challenges still ahead of us in making sure that everyone has an equal opportunity, no matter what their colour or background.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Ben Gummer

Wednesday 2nd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Ben Gummer]

That is a very helpful contribution from the hon. Lady, and I will indeed ensure that.

[Seema Kennedy (South Ribble) (Con)]

T9. The annual canvass is extremely expensive. What are the Government doing to reduce its cost?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Seema Kennedy and Ben Gummer

Tuesday 17th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Seema Kennedy (South Ribble) (Con)]

T6. St Catherine’s hospice provides outstanding end-of-life care, but receives only 26% funding compared with 34% nationally. Will the Minister confirm whether he has any plans to encourage clinical commissioning groups to pay their fair share for hospice care?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ben Gummer)]

I thank my hon. Friend, who is right to raise the issue of end-of-life care, which is central to our plans to provide better care across the NHS. Indeed, it was a manifesto commitment of ours at the general election. NHS England is looking at a more transparent, fairer and clearer funding advice formulae for CCGs. I encourage her CCG to look very carefully at that and to copy the example of some CCGs such as Airedale, which have put this at the centre of the work they do looking after local patients.