Oral Answers to Questions

Stephen Hepburn Excerpts

Tuesday 21st February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lansley]

That is a sensible question, and precisely why we are pursuing, as we said in November last year, a new approach to public-private partnership that does not entail the extreme costs, delays and burdens that past PFI projects have left. We are working with projects—for example, one at Alder Hey in Liverpool—to ensure that they demonstrate enhanced value for money compared with past PFI projects.

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

15. What recent representations he has received from health care professionals on the Health and Social Care Bill.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Anne Milton)]

The Government have received a wide range of representations throughout the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, including from health care professionals, the public and voluntary bodies, and the trade unions.

[Mr Hepburn]

The vast majority of people, whether they work for or use the health service, see the Bill for exactly what it is: a Tory plan to privatise the national health service. When will the Minister listen to people, stop trying to pull the wool over their eyes—it is not working—and scrap this tawdry Bill?