Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 27th March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lansley]

The hon. Lady should first have expressed a welcome for the fact that there has been a further reduction overall in the numbers of teenage pregnancies. As she knows, in her constituency there are doctors who, as she says, do not provide contraceptives, but there are also many other practices that do—17 out 18 GP practices in Walthamstow provide contraceptive services. There was a 60% increase in a decade in the number of managers in her area and the result seems to be that she does not understand how services were managed in Walthamstow. Under local authorities and the clinical commissioning groups in the future, there will be a clearer system.

[Mr Speaker]

No one could accuse the Secretary of State of being other than comprehensive. We are grateful to him.

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

The Secretary of State will be aware that under the allocation formula a number of PCTs have built up historic deficits, which have required us in Warrington, for example, to reduce our in vitro fertilisation services. Can the Minister confirm that with the transfer to GP commissioning, those historic deficits will be written off, which will in effect inject large amounts of money into local health economies such as Warrington’s?

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Skidmore (Kingswood) (Con)]

Is the Minister aware of the publication today of the industrial action review by the London ambulance service, which details that on 30 November, the day of the public service strikes, in the afternoon and the evening, requests for front-line staff to return to front-line ambulances were made by the London ambulance service. However, of the three unions to strike, only Unison responded to say that it would not ask staff to return to work. Three hours later, after three repeated requests for help, a patient who had been unable to get an ambulance had died. The report has called—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The hon. Gentleman should resume his seat. I do not wish to be unkind, but topical questions are about short questions, and that was not. I am very sorry. The Minister may give a brief reply if he wishes.

[Mr Simon Burns]

The industrial action to which my hon. Friend refers showed both the best and the worst sides of industrial relations in this country. On the one hand, it showed the worst excesses of union militancy and intransigence in failing to put effective contingency plans in place ahead of strike day, and then in refusing to call off the strike. On the other hand, it showed the best traditions of public services when the Metropolitan police, St John Ambulance and many out-of-hour providers came to the aid of the London ambulance service. Were it not for their help, the situation could have been even more serious.

[Mr Speaker]

The Minister’s power to anticipate what will be said to him is extremely impressive, and I congratulate him immensely warmly.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

One year on, are the pledges under the responsibility deal working?

[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I thank colleagues for their co-operation. I am sorry to disappoint those who were waiting, but we must move on.