(9 years ago)
Commons ChamberLike the hon. Gentleman, I am always delighted to hear from my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), who speaks with a lot of wisdom on a range of subjects. On this issue, the most important thing is that we devolve power to where it is most needed—to teachers and head teachers, so that they can run their schools in the free way that I know deep down he really wants them to.
13. What steps she is taking to ensure adequate recruitment of teachers by primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.
(13 years, 11 months ago)
Commons ChamberYes, and let me reassure my hon. Friend—because last summer I had the pleasure of joining him to visit what is an excellent hospital for the people of Newark—that under our reforms, given the commissioning powers of the GP consortia in the area, they will be able to help strengthen and tailor the health care that the hospital delivers, ensuring that it meets the needs of the people of Newark.
How does my hon. Friend envisage the commissioning of ambulance services under the new GP commissioning regime?
Ambulance services will be commissioned through the GP consortia at the local level. What I envisage—this is not prescriptive from the Department of Health, but what I think will develop—is that, just as ambulance services are currently commissioned for geographical areas in England through one PCT, the consortia will appoint lead consortia to commission the services for that area.