Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Burns and David Evennett

Thursday 21st April 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Evennett]

This is obviously a matter for the council and Parkrun, but the decision to charge for an event that is free in locations across the UK and around the world is one that we, as a Government, think should be reconsidered. We want to remove barriers to participation and encourage more and more people to get involved in sport. That is the key message that the Government want to get across.

[Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)]

If my hon. Friend were to speak to our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, he would become aware that in Chelmsford there is thriving grassroots sport in the form of ice hockey. Does the result of the spending review offer any hope of benefits for ice hockey at a grassroots level?

[Mr Evennett]

Obviously, decisions on local authority budgets are decisions for those authorities. We welcome what is happening in Chelmsford and I know how assiduous my right hon. Friend is in speaking up for his constituency. There are many examples across the country of local authorities spending on sport. For instance, Central Bedfordshire Council continues to invest in sport and physical activity provision. We encourage that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Burns and David Evennett

Thursday 3rd March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Evennett]

The Government’s first priority, of course, has been to deal with the physical impact of the floods themselves in the short term, and we have worked hard to make that happen. We now need to make sure that businesses that were affected attract the bookings that they need over the next few months. I have been to the Jorvik Viking Centre myself in the past and was very impressed with it, and I look forward to going again in the future. VisitEngland and VisitBritain are in discussions with such businesses and are using all their channels to support affected areas.

[Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)]

5. What steps the Government are taking to reduce the number of nuisance calls.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Burns and David Evennett

Tuesday 10th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Burns]

I can expand on it by saying that it will not be me who considers the options. As I have told my hon. Friend before, this is an independent review. However, as he suggests, the JCPCT may decide on four, six or seven possible sites. It all depends on what the consultation produces, and the clinical decision on what is the most appropriate number of sites, which will happen eventually.

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his championing of Southampton general hospital as the local Member of Parliament.

[Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)]

4. What recent representations he has received on access to the cancer drugs fund; and if he will make a statement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Burns and David Evennett

Tuesday 26th April 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)]

22. What steps he is taking to extend the choice that patients have over the treatment they receive from the NHS.

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon Burns)]

The Government have consulted on proposals to give patients greater choice and control over their care and treatment. We have deferred publication of our response to take into account the results of the listening exercise.

[Mr Evennett]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer and refer him to the King’s Fund paper, “Patient choice”, which was published in March 2010. Does he agree that people value being able to choose and that the exercise of choice raises standards and encourages NHS providers to design services around patients and their needs?

[Mr Burns]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I am certainly aware of the King’s Fund publication. The report was cited as a key source of evidence in the consultation document, “Liberating the NHS”. The Department of Health welcomes this significant contribution to the evidence base, which will inform how we implement the choice commitments set out in the White Paper, “Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS”.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Burns and David Evennett

Tuesday 29th June 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Burns]

I am a bit perplexed by the hon. Gentleman’s comments, because I have answered the specific narrow question that he asked—but let me try to cheer him up, if I can. We understand that he has been a redoubtable campaigner for the hospital, and we support the principle of community hospitals. The Department, as the hon. Gentleman knows, allocated £4.58 million to help the community hospital in Eltham and has already given about £1.9 million to NHS Greenwich, the primary care trust, for it. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will not have to come back to me with another question, because I trust that I am now going to cheer him up: I can announce today that the balance of the money will be paid and made available during the current financial year.

[Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on that announcement, which will bring considerable pleasure to people in south-east London. He is well aware that proposals are being made within our area of south-east London to reorganise health provision, which are causing considerable concern. Will he ensure that vital services are maintained in our area for patients?

[Mr Burns]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. As he rightly says, I am aware of the situation. As he will be aware, we believe that local people, local clinicians and local GPs should have an input into any reconfiguration of health care provision. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said when he announced the changes to the criteria, there will be an assessment of whether they apply to the reconfiguration to which my hon. Friend refers. Once that has been done and decisions have been reached, we will be able to move forward in the proper way.