PoliticsUK

Madame Speaker

Our nations pensioners have long lost out due to the ending of link of pension rises to national earnings. Will the minister look to reverse this and give pensioners a fair deal?

Madam Speaker,

Could the Secretary of State outline the government’s plans for the NHS?

Madam Speaker,

My Rt Hon Friend can rest assured that the Government will keep to its manifesto commitment to restore the link between the state pension and earnings, to tackle the blight of pensioner poverty left by the party opposite.



Madam Speaker,

The Government's plans for the NHS are for ensuring fast, convenient, high-quality care in all parts of the country. This will be delivered through both investment and reform.

Under this Labour Government, spending on the NHS saw the biggest sustained increase in its history, and double that under the Conservatives. Thanks to our prudent stewardship of the public finances, we are able to sustain significant funding increases throughout this Parliament. Over time, we will bring UK health spending up to the EU average. This spending will also faciliate the hiring of tens of thousands of extra doctors and nurses, improving NHS care for all.

Investment is vital but not enough. Continued reform is also needed for the NHS to fulfil its founding principle of quality treatment based on need, not ability to pay. The Government will decentralise power from Whitehall to local Primary Care Trusts and to front-line staff, who can better respond to local needs. The Government will reform the appointments system so that, by the end of 2005, every hospital appointment is booked for the convenience of the patient. And, the Government will facilitate working with the private sector, where it makes sense for NHS patients, make use of existing spare capacity to cut waiting times.

Madam Speaker,

The Health Secretary sounds like he has unveiled an agenda full of buzzwords, rather than concrete action.

He mentioned reforming the appointments system Madam Speaker so let me ask him, what level of consultation has his department undertaken regarding this measure, who has his department consulted and what was their findings?

Madam Speaker,

Given that he will no doubt support the repealing of Section 28, is the NHS prepared for the surge of HIV and AIDS cases that we will see?

Madam Speaker,

The Hon Lady asked for our plan. I have provided her the plan endorsed by the British people. It is disappointing she has already dismissed it out-of-hand. The Government regularly engages with health stakeholders, and will fully consult before the implementation of any policy.

Madam Speaker,

The Government has no reason to believe there will be any health implications of repealing this discriminatory piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker,

Could the Secretary of State for Health explain the logic of putting his own long and short-term sick individuals, that is people who are physically too sick to work, on the same benefits uplift regime as the unemployed? Does giving the long and short term sick a lower or stagnant standard of living help their medical conditions in any way?

Madam Speaker,

I apologise to the Honourable Lady but the Secretary of State is unable to take to the dispatch box, I hope she does not mind me answering in his place.

This government has protected benefits in real terms, and we're making significant investments into children and families. We have little interest in establishing any undeserving or deserving poor, like the Liberal Democrats may. Our primary aim is to focus resources into benefits that tackle poverty, lift those in most need up and encourage employment where possible, which is what this government is doing.