To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much funding his Department provided to support research on bee diseases in each of the last five years; what proportion was to the National Bee Unit; and whether other government departments fund bee research;

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much funding his Department provided to support research on bee diseases in each of the last five years; what proportion was to the National Bee Unit; and whether other government departments fund bee research;

(2) how much funding his Department provided to support the National Bee Unit in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on (a) supporting inspectors and (b) funding research in each year.

(2) how much funding his Department provided to support the National Bee Unit in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on (a) supporting inspectors and (b) funding research in each year.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on care for dementia sufferers.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on care for dementia sufferers.

I congratulate the hon. Member for Rugby and Hamilton—

I congratulate the hon. Member for Rugby and Hamilton—

My hon. Friend has made the point extremely well, and I expect that the Minister and hon. Members all agree that one of the main issues, and one on which we at times have our heads in the sand, is how to cope with our ageing population; how, as the...

My hon. Friend has made the point extremely well, and I expect that the Minister and hon. Members all agree that one of the main issues, and one on which we at times have our heads in the sand, is how to cope with our ageing population; how, as the...

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way and for the words that he has just uttered. When can we expect to hear the result of the examination of potential improvements in research spending, which, as my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford pointed out, halved from 2001 to...

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way and for the words that he has just uttered. When can we expect to hear the result of the examination of potential improvements in research spending, which, as my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford pointed out, halved from 2001 to...

I am well briefed. I congratulate the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Jeremy Wright) on securing this debate on a crucial issue. It seems that the issue will touch an increasing number of families—indeed, we know that that is happening. Many people seem incredibly uncomfortable talking about it, but...

I am well briefed. I congratulate the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Jeremy Wright) on securing this debate on a crucial issue. It seems that the issue will touch an increasing number of families—indeed, we know that that is happening. Many people seem incredibly uncomfortable talking about it, but...

Kenilworth.

Kenilworth.

I am delighted to pay tribute to that group in the hon. Lady's constituency. It is important to remember that, although the notion of an ageing society is presented as all about burdens and negativity, many of the present generation of older people are healthier than any previous generation, which...

I am delighted to pay tribute to that group in the hon. Lady's constituency. It is important to remember that, although the notion of an ageing society is presented as all about burdens and negativity, many of the present generation of older people are healthier than any previous generation, which...

Will the Minister join me in paying tribute to groups such as one in Cranleigh in my constituency, which started walking for health programmes for older people, with the unexpected benefit that, having been set up to give older people in particular more exercise, the programme has also provided an...

Will the Minister join me in paying tribute to groups such as one in Cranleigh in my constituency, which started walking for health programmes for older people, with the unexpected benefit that, having been set up to give older people in particular more exercise, the programme has also provided an...

The hon. Gentleman is even reading my mind now. I was just going to come on to that point. On the question of expert carers—hon. Members should listen, because I do not think that this is widely known—we are developing an expert carers programme that we will launch in the...

The hon. Gentleman is even reading my mind now. I was just going to come on to that point. On the question of expert carers—hon. Members should listen, because I do not think that this is widely known—we are developing an expert carers programme that we will launch in the...

On raising the quality of respite care, does my hon. Friend agree that it is not strictly a cost issue, but a regulation issue? The discussion I had with local carers about quality standards raised a question about regulating to minimum standards. When the homes that were being complained about...

On raising the quality of respite care, does my hon. Friend agree that it is not strictly a cost issue, but a regulation issue? The discussion I had with local carers about quality standards raised a question about regulating to minimum standards. When the homes that were being complained about...

I agree with the hon. Lady's sentiments. Neil Hunt and the Alzheimer's Society have done a tremendous job in raising awareness of these issues and pressuring the system to take them far more seriously than it has done hitherto. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Worsley...

I agree with the hon. Lady's sentiments. Neil Hunt and the Alzheimer's Society have done a tremendous job in raising awareness of these issues and pressuring the system to take them far more seriously than it has done hitherto. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Worsley...

Will the Minister pick up the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth about expanding the voluntary sector and the role that it has to play?

Will the Minister pick up the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth about expanding the voluntary sector and the role that it has to play?

We intend the national dementia strategy, when it is published, to reference our view on going forward on research, so it will be clear as part of the process. At the moment, that is not identified as one of the priorities for the development of the strategy, but I am...

We intend the national dementia strategy, when it is published, to reference our view on going forward on research, so it will be clear as part of the process. At the moment, that is not identified as one of the priorities for the development of the strategy, but I am...

The Minister has been party to creating joint working between health and social care in order to try to create a seamless system. In that context, the decision of his Government to make such a discrepant allocation of funds between local government and health looks peculiar. I am not responsible...

The Minister has been party to creating joint working between health and social care in order to try to create a seamless system. In that context, the decision of his Government to make such a discrepant allocation of funds between local government and health looks peculiar. I am not responsible...

Yes, I agree entirely with that. But the hon. Gentleman must accept that his party is not saying to the people of England, ““We are going to spend a lot more money on dementia.”” There has been no such policy commitment. Let me make it clear that there will be...

Yes, I agree entirely with that. But the hon. Gentleman must accept that his party is not saying to the people of England, ““We are going to spend a lot more money on dementia.”” There has been no such policy commitment. Let me make it clear that there will be...

I would like to associate myself with the Minister's comments. The courage of people who have been through such an experience is extraordinarily humbling. I agree with him that without people like Barbara Pointon, our ability to debate and find solutions to some of these problems would be much less...

I would like to associate myself with the Minister's comments. The courage of people who have been through such an experience is extraordinarily humbling. I agree with him that without people like Barbara Pointon, our ability to debate and find solutions to some of these problems would be much less...

There was an era not that long ago when nothing plus nothing came to nothing, and those of us in the House who remember it know the dreadful state in which public services were left as a consequence. Frankly, it is a little disingenuous of the hon. Gentleman to make...

There was an era not that long ago when nothing plus nothing came to nothing, and those of us in the House who remember it know the dreadful state in which public services were left as a consequence. Frankly, it is a little disingenuous of the hon. Gentleman to make...