Prime Minister's Questions
May 11, 2011
PMQ’s: Wednesday 11th May 2011
Phillip Hollobone: Tribute to David Cairns MP who died on Monday. A ban on giving Prisoners the vote was voted for in this House. The ECHR has ignored this House and insists the law is changed. Will the Government give in to them or stand up for our sovereignty? DC: The Commons has given a clear view. My view is the same. We should be trying to reform the ECHR to make sure it does pay attention to national parliaments. We have to consider our response, but it must be as close as possible to the Commons decision.
EM: Tribute to David Cairns MP who died on Monday. A year in, how would he rate his handling of the NHS? DC: We have increased spending. An extra £11.6bn into NHS and £200m cancer drugs fund and the number of doctors is growing and bureaucrats falling.
EM: It takes 7 years to train a doctor so thanks for his congratulations. Why are waiting figures for diagnosis growing? They are three times what they were a year ago. There was no mention of his top-down reforms. A month ago he said he had been involved in designing these changes. Can he confirm therefore that the failing plans are his fault. DC: He has said “no change is not an option”. I am glad he mentioned waiting times. He said two weeks ago they have risen month-on-month. Not true. Figures showed that inpatient waiting times fell from 9.1 to 9 weeks and outpatients from 4.1 to 4 weeks. Will he correct the record?
EM: No. Waiting times are rising and I note he didn’t take the opportunity to take responsibility for the health reforms. Where is the Health Secretary? It is becoming a pattern. We have seen the Universities minister dumped on for his university policy, the education minister the same for his free schools policy. He must believe something has gone wrong as he is having a listening exercise. Is it a genuine exercise? DC: Of course it is. He is wrong on waiting times. I will place them in the Commons Library. He should correct records. His health secretary said the general aims of the reforms are sound. It is looking like the Labour of 30 years ago.
EM: The PMQ’s make-over is over. Flashman is back. I will try the question again. Why is the Chief Executive of NHS writing to NHS staff after the pause and saying NHS staff should press on with implementation of plans. That doesn’t sound like pause to me. DC: There will be significant and substantial changes to the reforms to guarantee their aims. We will put more money in, unlike Labour. He ought to look at the GP’s who have written to say this is good for patients. I accept some of my cultural references are out of date, but he said the fight back would start in Scotland before crashing there. He reminds me of Eddie the Eagle.
EM: Congratulations on getting 42 GP’s to write to the Telegraph. The Royal College of GP’s represents 42,000 GPs and they say his plans will cause irreparable damage to core values of NHS. His pause is a sham. DC: Why doesn’t he deal with the substance of the reforms? The truth is, no change is not an option, that’s what most people think. GP fundholding, foundation hospitals, and payment by results, all started under labour, and are being taken forward now. He should be engaging in how we make sure we have a strong NHS.
EM: Calm Down Dear. Doesn’t his mess tell us all we need to know. He breaks promises, doesn’t think things through and dumps on his colleagues. Tories can’t be trusted with the NHS. DC: What we have seen is the product of empty opposition and weak leadership. He reiterated investment and growing numbers of doctors. We are defending the NHS, Labour in Wales is cutting the NHS.
Sir Paul Beresford: The PM is aware of the fatal disease, variant CND, transferred through instruments. A Prion deactivation and blood test has been developed. But a financial hiccup in progressing these has occured. Does he acknowledge the importance and will he meet to discuss progress. DC: Happy to arrange a meeting with Chief Medical Officer. There have been various research studies. We don’t have all the answers yet. We have committed to provide £32m to national prion unit. That should get to the answers.
Elfyn Llwyd: Protection from Harassment Act served its purpose but there has been an increase in cyber-stalking. Will he meet to discuss this? DC: Happy to hold that meeting. Trying to make sure we take all cyber-crime seriously across the board. The strategy needs to take harassment into account.
Bob Russell: Labour took us to brink of bankruptcy, the gap between rich and poor grew. We have seen 1000 multi-millionaires boosting personal wealth by 18% in last year. DC: We will crack down on tax evasion and the Treasury has put money into that. Because of the Coalition, we have lifted 1 million people out of income tax and the economy is growing.
Alan Johnson: The PM castigated his predecessor for not proscribing Hizb ut-Tahrir. He has been in place for a year and hasn’t either. DC: We have got to target groups that promote extremism. We have proscribed one or two. A further review is under way.
Tony Baldry: What estimate has he made of comments this week by the Director General of the CBI on deficit reduction plan. DC: They have not always supported action to tackle deficit. But they are full-square behind us and said the economy would be weaker under Labour.
Wayne David: Last week, excellent results for Labour in Wales. What progress has there been on reforming the Barnett formula for Wales. DC: We are looking closely at it. If that is his definition of success, I am glad he is happy. Look at their performance in Scotland. Peddled a myth there and admitted it.
Daniel Kawczynski: Shropshire Council saved £30m and protected front-line services. Will he join me in congratulating them and are they not a shining example? DC: Good point. Councils can reduce bureaucracy and top executive pay to protect front line services. They are an example to be followed.
Tom Watson: Asked about the Hatton Inquiry which he said should go where evidence leads. Will he order a judicial inquiry now? DC: The problem is interfering with criminal investigations taking place. We must make sure police and prosecutors can follow the evidence.
Robert Halfon: The story of Robin Hood has parallels with the Government’s policies of taxing bankers, city fat cats, and oil barons. Will he urge opposition members to join the Governmentthat helps poor and takes away from the rich. DC: We introduced the bank levy and taxed oil companies to cut petrol duties. They gave Fred Godwin a knighthood.
Liz Kendall: Asked about pressures on the London emergency services in the run up to Olympics. What risk assessment has he made of London Ambulance cutting 20% of their workforce? DC: I have discussed some of the challenges they face and the terrorist threat. All are making savings and efficiencies and concentrating on front line. Ambulance and NHS spending are protected under this Government.
Robert Sturdy: Does he share the shadow Chancellor’s views that we should adopt the Obama reduction plan pace? DC: They have said we should follow US programme, but the US’s is the same as ours. One of the planks of the ‘good ship Balls’ is now holed below the waterline.
Jim Shannon: Joined the tribute to David Cairns MP who served in Northern Ireland. The UK contribution to the bailout for Eurozone countries amounts to half of the savings in the deficit reduction plans this year. This will appal many. Can he assure us that we will make no further contributions to such bail-outs? DC: The only direct money lent is to Ireland and it is in our interests not to see a collapse there. Other contingent liabilities flow through the finance mechanism in Europe and we are negotiating to get rid of that.
Laurence Robertson: If any part of UK decided to leave the Union, while part of the national debt would follow them, will he reassure us that any subsidy from rest of UK would not? DC: I can confirm that, but we must join together to fight off any break up of our Union. Arguments must be made by saying the UK is good for Scotland and vice-versa.
Ronnie Campbell: Now the AV referendum no-one wanted is out of the way, 70% of British people want a referendum on Europe. When will that be? DC: The AV Referendum was in the Labour manifesto of course! Read it.
Caroline Noakes: Given the high level of demand for consultation events at the cardiac unit in Southamption. Will he support additional events being called for? DC: I agree with her. There should be as many events as people want and as much transparency and explanation of why specialisation is necessary.
Alan Whitehead: What do Ministers think about the adoption of the 4th budget by the Climate Change Committee. Will he press for this in cabinet? DC: We will respond in full on 4th carbon budget.
Richard Bacon: Closed Question. DC: We are very concerned that NHS IT projects provide poor value for money. In 2008 it was announced that the care records system will take four more years than planned. As a result, we have cut £1.3bn from the cost of IT in the NHS. RB: Does he agree it will never deliver its promises and should we not now free up the rest of the money now. DC: I agree we must achieve better value for money. There are no plans for future signing of contracts until the NAO report has been reviewed and all options will be considered including termination.
Sheila Gilmore: Why is his work programme being delivered by private companies in Scotland? DC: If she looks at details she will see that sub-contracting shows bigger opportunities for the voluntary sector. We should indeed open it up to voluntary sector.
Tom Brake: One year on, will the PM update the House on progress on the economy? DC: Not only are exports growing and manufacturing, 400,000 more people are in work in the private sector than a year ago. We have cut the deficit, capped immigration, taken people out of income tax. It is a record to be proud of.
William McRae: The widow of an Afghan serviceman was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. She wants the military covenant enshrined in law. Will he support that? DC: Congratulations to her on her election. We do want to see the armed forces covenant set out and referenced in law and want to see us take big steps forward for families of servicemen. We have made progress for families, but there is more we can do.
