Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 16th April 2013 Commons Chamber

[Dr Poulter]

My hon. Friend will be aware that local authorities are now receiving 40% of the public health budget. That allows local authorities to have a much more nuanced approach to how and where they direct their budgets. It is of course desirable to focus on the early years to give each and every child the best start in life, to set good and healthy eating patterns and to support the work being done in the health service in expanding the health visitor programme. This also allows local authorities to address other public health challenges in the area by focusing, for example, on areas with high rates of teenage pregnancy, smoking or cardiovascular disease death.

[Mr Speaker]

I am grateful to the Minister, but we do have quite a lot to get through, so shorter answers would help.

[Mr Peter Hain (Neath) (Lab)]

What sort of early intervention have the Government ordered to prevent a contagious spread of measles from the outbreak in the Neath and Swansea area of more than 700 serious cases? Thousands of parents across Britain will have been tormented by the choice of whether to vaccinate their children for measles, mumps and rubella because of the scare. Surely the Minister should take serious action to instruct public health officials to combat this issue.

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[Norman Lamb]

My hon. Friend makes an extremely interesting point. Although I have not agreed to meet her, I would be happy to have an informal discussion with her at some later stage.

[Mr Speaker]

I think we will take that as a meeting.

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

17. Whether there are plans to close the accident and emergency department at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Norman Lamb)]

I am tempted to say no, but I would not get away with it—so, yes, of course the hon. Lady can join all the rest and arrange to meet me. I would be very happy to discuss her concerns. While I am at the Dispatch Box, may I pay tribute to the International Centre for Life, which does really important work?

[Mr Speaker]

The Minister can report to his family just how popular a fellow he is.

[Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD)]

T3. The all-party group on global tuberculosis has just published a report on rising rates of drug-resistant TB. One recommendation is for a national strategy for TB in the UK. Will the Minister comment on that? The officers of the all-party group would also be grateful if he fitted us into his very busy schedule of meetings.