The honourable old lag.

The honourable old lag.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on the promotion of regional languages in developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had on the promotion of regional languages in developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in his Department received coaching in a foreign language in the last 12 months; what expenditure his Department incurred in providing such coaching; and in what languages such coaching was provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in his Department received coaching in a foreign language in the last 12 months; what expenditure his Department incurred in providing such coaching; and in what languages such coaching was provided.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on general practitioners in Northamptonshire.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on general practitioners in Northamptonshire.

May I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary of State for Health announced his intention to rip up GPs' contracts and start again. I assume that the hon. Gentleman is bound by the policy of those on his own Front Bench.

May I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary of State for Health announced his intention to rip up GPs' contracts and start again. I assume that the hon. Gentleman is bound by the policy of those on his own Front Bench.

It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Taylor. I congratulate the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on securing this Adjournment debate. The intervention of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) was obviously important from his constituents' point of view. I have to say, as...

It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Taylor. I congratulate the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on securing this Adjournment debate. The intervention of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) was obviously important from his constituents' point of view. I have to say, as...

I shall deal with that accusation head-on. In 2006-07, the allocation to the PCT increased to £730 million—a cash increase of 12.7 per cent. In 2007-08, it received £870 million, which is a further cash increase of 12 per cent. That is a cash increase of 26.3 per cent. over...

I shall deal with that accusation head-on. In 2006-07, the allocation to the PCT increased to £730 million—a cash increase of 12.7 per cent. In 2007-08, it received £870 million, which is a further cash increase of 12 per cent. That is a cash increase of 26.3 per cent. over...

I shall make some progress and then give way to the hon. Gentleman. Major progress has been made in Northamptonshire. All Northamptonshire patients are able to see a GP or a nurse for a routine appointment within 48 hours, Northamptonshire practices achieved an average of 960.1 quality points out of...

I shall make some progress and then give way to the hon. Gentleman. Major progress has been made in Northamptonshire. All Northamptonshire patients are able to see a GP or a nurse for a routine appointment within 48 hours, Northamptonshire practices achieved an average of 960.1 quality points out of...

I will give way in a moment. I shall provide some recent information, which is not made up, about what is happening in the hon. Gentleman's health economy area. Six large extensions opened in 2007—three in Northampton, two in Corby and one in Daventry—and a new surgery has opened in...

I will give way in a moment. I shall provide some recent information, which is not made up, about what is happening in the hon. Gentleman's health economy area. Six large extensions opened in 2007—three in Northampton, two in Corby and one in Daventry—and a new surgery has opened in...

The tone of the hon. Gentleman's presentation was to talk down the NHS and its performance, and to use anecdotes to say that the Government's desire to respond to patient preference and choice is misguided. He did not refer to the fact that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary...

The tone of the hon. Gentleman's presentation was to talk down the NHS and its performance, and to use anecdotes to say that the Government's desire to respond to patient preference and choice is misguided. He did not refer to the fact that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary...

No. It is exceptionally disingenuous for hon. Members who represent a political party that slashed NHS spending in every part of the country to come here and undermine the massive additional, above-average investment in their communities. We should remember that during the past seven or eight years, that party has...

No. It is exceptionally disingenuous for hon. Members who represent a political party that slashed NHS spending in every part of the country to come here and undermine the massive additional, above-average investment in their communities. We should remember that during the past seven or eight years, that party has...

The hon. Gentleman has rightly said that we should value GPs, that they ought to have more priority and that there is too much emphasis on hospitals. How does he feel that ripping up GPs' contracts will enhance morale amongst GPs in his community?

The hon. Gentleman has rightly said that we should value GPs, that they ought to have more priority and that there is too much emphasis on hospitals. How does he feel that ripping up GPs' contracts will enhance morale amongst GPs in his community?

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that non-English speaking spouses of UK citizens are given access to language training; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that non-English speaking spouses of UK citizens are given access to language training; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many Languages Pathfinders have been established in (a) West Sussex and (b) England so far this year; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many Languages Pathfinders have been established in (a) West Sussex and (b) England so far this year; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of people from (a) India and (b) Pakistan who are permanently settled in the UK and do not have a working knowledge of English.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of people from (a) India and (b) Pakistan who are permanently settled in the UK and do not have a working knowledge of English.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on English language teaching for (a) those from India and Pakistan settled permanently in the UK and (b) new arrivals with an inadequate grasp of English in each of the past five years broken down...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on English language teaching for (a) those from India and Pakistan settled permanently in the UK and (b) new arrivals with an inadequate grasp of English in each of the past five years broken down...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if the Government intends to improve provision for teaching (a) Spanish and (b) Mandarin at (i) pre-16 and (ii) post-16 level. - (Holding answer 18 June 2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if the Government intends to improve provision for teaching (a) Spanish and (b) Mandarin at (i) pre-16 and (ii) post-16 level. - (Holding answer 18 June 2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how the Government intends to encourage the integration of language learning within Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks as stated in the Green Paper `14-19: Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards', with reference to the availability of an optional foreign language. (Holding answer 18 June...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how the Government intends to encourage the integration of language learning within Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks as stated in the Green Paper `14-19: Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards', with reference to the availability of an optional foreign language. (Holding answer 18 June...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when modern foreign language teaching is to be excluded from the compulsory curriculum for those aged 14. (Holding answer 18 June 2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, when modern foreign language teaching is to be excluded from the compulsory curriculum for those aged 14. (Holding answer 18 June 2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research into the study of languages and the benefits of studying a foreign language is being undertaken by her Department. (Holding answer 18 June 2002).

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what research into the study of languages and the benefits of studying a foreign language is being undertaken by her Department. (Holding answer 18 June 2002).