Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Valerie Vaz Excerpts
Thursday 9th June 2011

(13 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Valerie Vaz Portrait Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
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Will the Leader of the House conduct a review and make a statement to the House on the way in which the Government respond to questions from Members? On Tuesday, I asked the Secretary of State for Health about the cost of the listening exercise. He has twice been unable to answer that question and wants to write to me. Some estimates have put the cost at up to £1 billion. If the pause, listening and reflecting had been done at the White Paper stage, none of these costs would have been incurred.

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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If my right hon. Friend said that he would write to the hon. Lady with an answer, I am sure that that is exactly what he will do. I think that the pause for the listening exercise has been widely welcomed. If it enables us to improve the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill, I am sure that the whole House will welcome that outcome.