Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 10th May 2016 Commons Chamber

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We are very time constrained, but I am very keen to get through a few more questions.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alistair Burt]

Yes. My family know I am a keen supporter of the shed movement, just as I am a keen supporter of the 5 Live Saturday afternoon movement and the beer in the shed movement. I can assure my hon. Friend that an opportunity to visit the Havant Men’s Shed movement will be an important part of the ministerial diary in the very near future.

[Mr Speaker]

The Minister is an endlessly noble fellow—I think we are very clear about that.

[Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) (Lab)]

T2. During March, at one of my local trusts the A&E ambulance target was missed for 937 patients, and more than 4,000 patients waited for more than four hours in A&E. Staff and management agree that this is a trust in crisis, with many wards staffed to less than half the minimum safe staffing levels. Patient safety is being compromised every day. Will the Secretary of State please stop passing the buck and act to stop the downgrade of Dewsbury and Huddersfield hospitals, because it is clear that our local healthcare is in absolute crisis?

--- Later in debate ---

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I shall call the hon. Member for Nottingham North (Graham Allen) if he guarantees that his grey cells will produce a one-sentence, pithy question.

[Mr Graham Allen (Nottingham North) (Lab)]

Will the Minister responsible for dental matters meet me and the hon. Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) to discuss dental ill health in children and how we can change the dentist contract to make it more prevention-friendly? I have got a lot more to say, but I will sit down.

[Mr Speaker]

That was possibly the hon. Gentleman’s greatest inquiry in his membership of the House.

[Alistair Burt]

Yes.

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Mr Speaker]

Marvellous. I am sorry to disappoint remaining colleagues, but we must move on. I am most grateful to colleagues for their good humour.