Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sharon Hodgson and Nick Clegg

Tuesday 7th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

Clearly, we strive at all times to deliver value for money for the taxpayer. For instance, the proposals to reform the House of Lords are based on a radical reduction in the size of the House of Lords, which over a period of time will of course represent significant savings.

[Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West) (Lab)]

T10. I am sure that the Deputy Prime Minister was rather disappointed to be described yesterday as the Government’s whipping boy by one of his high-profile celebrity backers. One way in which he could cast off that awful image is by demanding that his Tory masters drop this disastrous and unwanted Health and Social Care Bill. Will he do so, and does he actually think that the Health Secretary is doing a good job?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

The hon. Lady is following her instructions dutifully, and I congratulate her on doing so. I think that she is referring to—[Interruption.]