To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the decision of the Lancashire Health Scrutiny Committee to refer to the Secretary of State the closure of the Deerplay children’s ward at Burnley General Hospital and the transfer of its functions to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, (a) when a decision by the Secretary...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the decision of the Lancashire Health Scrutiny Committee to refer to the Secretary of State the closure of the Deerplay children’s ward at Burnley General Hospital and the transfer of its functions to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, (a) when a decision by the Secretary...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff in each primary care trust in England and Wales were employed to deliver paediatric continence services in the financial years 2009–10 and 2010–11 to date; and whether they forecast those numbers to increase in the next financial year.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff in each primary care trust in England and Wales were employed to deliver paediatric continence services in the financial years 2009–10 and 2010–11 to date; and whether they forecast those numbers to increase in the next financial year.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the expenditure of primary care trusts in England and Wales on paediatric continence services in the financial years 2009–10 and 2010–11 to date; and whether they forecast expenditure to decrease in the next financial year.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the expenditure of primary care trusts in England and Wales on paediatric continence services in the financial years 2009–10 and 2010–11 to date; and whether they forecast expenditure to decrease in the next financial year.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how paediatric continence services will be affected by local NHS restructuring plans.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how paediatric continence services will be affected by local NHS restructuring plans.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on accident and emergency services.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on accident and emergency services.

The shadow Minister does not want to ““intrude on private grief”” and I appreciate that. I want to help her to stop digging. If she waits until I make my response to the debate and address the point made by the hon. Member for Burnley, my response might help to...

The shadow Minister does not want to ““intrude on private grief”” and I appreciate that. I want to help her to stop digging. If she waits until I make my response to the debate and address the point made by the hon. Member for Burnley, my response might help to...

As always, I am very interested to hear what the Minister has to say. However, there are three specific points that I would like him to address. First, is there currently a moratorium on reconfiguration proposals, and if there is, why are local areas able to take decisions to downgrade...

As always, I am very interested to hear what the Minister has to say. However, there are three specific points that I would like him to address. First, is there currently a moratorium on reconfiguration proposals, and if there is, why are local areas able to take decisions to downgrade...

Do you want me to answer that?

Do you want me to answer that?

I am very happy to let the Minister respond in full in a few moments. I am reaching the end of my comments. Secondly, does the assessment of proposals that SHAs have been asked to carry out apply to existing schemes? Thirdly, if it is not for Ministers to intervene...

I am very happy to let the Minister respond in full in a few moments. I am reaching the end of my comments. Secondly, does the assessment of proposals that SHAs have been asked to carry out apply to existing schemes? Thirdly, if it is not for Ministers to intervene...

What an unexpected pleasure it is to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Walker. It is a first for me, and I hope that there will be many such occasions in future. I congratulate the hon. Member for Southport (Dr Pugh) on securing this important debate. I will start by dealing...

What an unexpected pleasure it is to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Walker. It is a first for me, and I hope that there will be many such occasions in future. I congratulate the hon. Member for Southport (Dr Pugh) on securing this important debate. I will start by dealing...

The shadow Minister.

The shadow Minister.

Sorry, the shadow Minister. I was trying to make the hon. Lady relive old glory days.

Sorry, the shadow Minister. I was trying to make the hon. Lady relive old glory days.

Happy days.

Happy days.

Obviously they were not happy for the country, or the hon. Lady would not be a shadow Minister now. But there we are; that is life. I pay tribute to the many members of NHS staff in the constituency of the hon. Member for Southport for all the hard work...

Obviously they were not happy for the country, or the hon. Lady would not be a shadow Minister now. But there we are; that is life. I pay tribute to the many members of NHS staff in the constituency of the hon. Member for Southport for all the hard work...

I would be interested to know what the Government's rationale was for removing the section in the coalition agreement that said that PCT boards would be elected. Why was that in the coalition agreement if it was to be ripped up five weeks later, and if the White Paper was...

I would be interested to know what the Government's rationale was for removing the section in the coalition agreement that said that PCT boards would be elected. Why was that in the coalition agreement if it was to be ripped up five weeks later, and if the White Paper was...

It is a delight to serve under your chairwomanship, Ms Clark. I congratulate the hon. Member for Southport (Dr Pugh) on securing this important debate. I know that he has particular interests in health concerns not only in his constituency but around the country. He set the scene very clearly...

It is a delight to serve under your chairwomanship, Ms Clark. I congratulate the hon. Member for Southport (Dr Pugh) on securing this important debate. I know that he has particular interests in health concerns not only in his constituency but around the country. He set the scene very clearly...

My hon. Friend makes a good point. The children's ward is moved from one town to another because that is where the maternity suite is based. In Burnley, the children's ward is being moved to make way for a maternity suite. It is hard to make any sort of sense...

My hon. Friend makes a good point. The children's ward is moved from one town to another because that is where the maternity suite is based. In Burnley, the children's ward is being moved to make way for a maternity suite. It is hard to make any sort of sense...

That happened when your party was in government.

That happened when your party was in government.

I am a great supporter of local government and served as a local authority councillor for eight years, so I understand clearly the important role that a local authority can play in a community. However, I am saying to the Minister that effective scrutiny and the effective ability to look...

I am a great supporter of local government and served as a local authority councillor for eight years, so I understand clearly the important role that a local authority can play in a community. However, I am saying to the Minister that effective scrutiny and the effective ability to look...

May I help the shadow Minister by reading to her what the Secretary of State announced in May would be the guiding principles for new and current reconfigurations? He said that"““reconfigurations must have the support of GP commissioners; demonstrate strong public and patient engagement; be based on sound clinical evidence,...

May I help the shadow Minister by reading to her what the Secretary of State announced in May would be the guiding principles for new and current reconfigurations? He said that"““reconfigurations must have the support of GP commissioners; demonstrate strong public and patient engagement; be based on sound clinical evidence,...