---

Public Health (England)

I am pleased to follow my neighbour, the hon. Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate). Although I do not often agree with him, he made several important points today. However, I was disappointed that he had not listened to the speech of my hon. Friend the Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison), who said that he wanted to ring-fence funds and that there should be a Cabinet Minister to deal with public health. Both are policies that we should consider for the future, with—I hope—increasing support from Labour Members. I am pleased to be able to speak in this debate. Health debates tend to be about hospitals, primary care, cuts and so forth, rather than about public health.