1-20 of 459 results for answeredby:"Nick Ainger"
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 0.402 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.003 seconds
- Search query
- answeredby:"Nick Ainger"
- We searched for
- answeringMember_ses:298790 OR answeringDept_ses:298790 OR askedToReplyAuthor_ses:298790
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
More
Primary member
More
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
More
Publisher
Indeed. I congratulate Lesley Griffiths on her recent success. My hon. Friend is right that the investment in the health service in Wales is delivering real improvements and waiting times are falling. Local health boards in Wales need to talk to hospitals in England about local packages of care, but given the money that is now going into the health service in Wales, finance should not be a problem.
Indeed. I congratulate Lesley Griffiths on her recent success. My hon. Friend is right that the investment in the health service in Wales is delivering real improvements and waiting times are falling. Local health boards in Wales need to talk to hospitals in England about local packages of care, but given the money that is now going into the health service in Wales, finance should not be a problem.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Ian Lucas
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Much progress has been made in reducing waiting times for patients from Wales attending hospitals in England. In Wrexham, visits to the Countess of Chester and Gobowen hospitals have much shorter waiting times. I suggest, however, that there be close discussions with the new Welsh Health Minister on that issue and on cross-border funding issues. I suggest that my hon. Friend also discuss the matter with the new Assembly Member for Wrexham, Lesley Griffiths. I may have omitted to mention the fact that Wrexham was a Labour gain—
Subjects
Hospitals; Waiting lists; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c243
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
In fact, response times have improved dramatically in the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. It was formed in 1998, and for the past two months, it has exceeded its target of responding to 60 per cent. of life-threatening emergencies inside eight minutes. That is a result of substantial investment in staff and, especially, equipment. The service is meeting its targets and continues to improve. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would appreciate some assistance from the Welsh ambulance trust.
In fact, response times have improved dramatically in the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. It was formed in 1998, and for the past two months, it has exceeded its target of responding to 60 per cent. of life-threatening emergencies inside eight minutes. That is a result of substantial investment in staff and, especially, equipment. The service is meeting its targets and continues to improve. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would appreciate some assistance from the Welsh ambulance trust.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
David Amess
(Conservative)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Whatever the Minister says, the present arrangements do not seem to be working terribly well, with response times deteriorating from the present eight minutes. Is that the fault of the Minister, or the Welsh Assembly?
Subjects
Cross border cooperation; Ambulance services; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c247
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The facts are that there are no Welsh patients waiting more than eight months for treatment in hospitals, including the Royal Shrewsbury, compared with 900 a year ago, and in the past three years the number of Welsh patients waiting for more than six months for a first appointment at an English hospital has fallen by 61 per cent. Those are significant improvements. Yes, further improvements can be made, but the Welsh Assembly Government will spend £5.5 billion on the health service in Wales next year, amounting to £1,800 per person, something that could not be achieved by the hon. Gentleman’s policy of sharing tax cuts with public service investment. That would mean a £21 billion cut.
The facts are that there are no Welsh patients waiting more than eight months for treatment in hospitals, including the Royal Shrewsbury, compared with 900 a year ago, and in the past three years the number of Welsh patients waiting for more than six months for a first appointment at an English hospital has fallen by 61 per cent. Those are significant improvements. Yes, further improvements can be made, but the Welsh Assembly Government will spend £5.5 billion on the health service in Wales next year, amounting to £1,800 per person, something that could not be achieved by the hon. Gentleman’s policy of sharing tax cuts with public service investment. That would mean a £21 billion cut.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Philip Dunne
(Conservative)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
I am grateful to the Minister for that optimistic response. The Royal Shrewsbury hospital supplies tremendous service to Welsh patients, especially those from mid-Wales. But why do Welsh patients have to wait 29 per cent. longer than English patients for routine elective operations and 39 per cent. longer for a first out-patient appointment?
Subjects
Hospitals; Waiting lists; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c243
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) makes a very good point. I understand that the Great Western ambulance service, which covers his constituency, has joint working arrangements with the Welsh ambulance service to deal with specific sites such as bridges and tunnels. Those working arrangements are regularly reviewed. I understand that there are closer working arrangements and co-operation elsewhere on the border. I will shortly be meeting Edwina Hart, the Assembly Minister with responsibility for health, and I will take up the point that the hon. Gentleman makes.
The hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) makes a very good point. I understand that the Great Western ambulance service, which covers his constituency, has joint working arrangements with the Welsh ambulance service to deal with specific sites such as bridges and tunnels. Those working arrangements are regularly reviewed. I understand that there are closer working arrangements and co-operation elsewhere on the border. I will shortly be meeting Edwina Hart, the Assembly Minister with responsibility for health, and I will take up the point that the hon. Gentleman makes.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Lord Harper
(Conservative)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank the Minister for that answer. Ambulance services are a particular challenge in Gloucestershire, especially in Forest of Dean, given the nature of its geography. In some cases, it would make sense for the Welsh ambulance service to deal with patients in the southern part of my constituency. Will the Minister use whatever good offices he has to encourage Welsh Assembly Ministers to urge the Welsh ambulance service to work seamlessly with its colleagues in Gloucestershire, because we do not want the Welsh border to become a barrier to effective health care? [Interruption.]
Subjects
Cross border cooperation; Ambulance services; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c246-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I saw the exchange between the hon. Gentleman and the Secretary of State for Health, and I can tell him that the current recruitment system in Wales does allow for applicants to complete their form and then be interviewed in the Welsh language, provided that they inform the recruitment panel in advance. As we are interviewing every applicant, there is that clear opportunity for them to make the case that they have this additional benefit—it clearly is a benefit in many parts of Wales—of being able to communicate with their patients in Welsh. When I have discussions with Edwina Hart, the new Welsh Assembly Health Minister, I will raise this matter.
I saw the exchange between the hon. Gentleman and the Secretary of State for Health, and I can tell him that the current recruitment system in Wales does allow for applicants to complete their form and then be interviewed in the Welsh language, provided that they inform the recruitment panel in advance. As we are interviewing every applicant, there is that clear opportunity for them to make the case that they have this additional benefit—it clearly is a benefit in many parts of Wales—of being able to communicate with their patients in Welsh. When I have discussions with Edwina Hart, the new Welsh Assembly Health Minister, I will raise this matter.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Hywel Williams
(Plaid Cymru)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
When I tackled the Secretary of State for Health on this matter some two weeks ago, I asked her where in the application form there was a reference to the qualification of being able to speak Welsh. Her answer was, I am afraid, woefully inadequate. Will the Minister take this matter up with the Department of Health, given that there are shortages of Welsh-speaking doctors not only in general practice but in paediatrics, psychiatry and geriatrics? There is a pool of Welsh-speaking doctors—not only in Wales—who could be recruited.
Subjects
Career development; Doctors; Recruitment; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c242
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
As I said earlier, no Welsh patient is waiting for care in an English hospital for more than 12 months, compared with 900 last year. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman look back at the figures for 1996-97, which were substantially higher than those for last year. No patient in Wales waits longer than eight months for in-patient care, which means that many of them actually receive care long before the eight-month target time.
As I said earlier, no Welsh patient is waiting for care in an English hospital for more than 12 months, compared with 900 last year. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman look back at the figures for 1996-97, which were substantially higher than those for last year. No patient in Wales waits longer than eight months for in-patient care, which means that many of them actually receive care long before the eight-month target time.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
David Jones
(Conservative)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
The Minister mentions that the target waiting time for elective surgery is eight months. In fact, as I am sure he will agree, that is the target waiting time for in-patient treatment. The combined target waiting time for Welsh patients is a total of 68 weeks, whereas for English patients it is 31 weeks. Can the Minister explain why Welsh patients—who after all pay their taxes at the same rates as English patients—should be expected to wait in pain for an additional 37 weeks? Is that a policy decision by the Welsh Assembly Government, or is it incompetence?
Subjects
Hospitals; Waiting lists; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c243-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Well, the hon. Gentleman gives us his usual rant, but the system that is now being used in Wales—in which every applicant will receive an interview—has been warmly welcomed by the Welsh deanery and the BMA Welsh junior doctors committee. The process is working well in Wales and we now have more than 2,200 doctors in training in Wales. The number of training places in Wales will rise from 261 last year to 320 next year. The investment in doctors’ training and medical students is proving to be a great success, and that is why we are seeing substantial improvements in the quality of care being provided in Wales and in England.
Well, the hon. Gentleman gives us his usual rant, but the system that is now being used in Wales—in which every applicant will receive an interview—has been warmly welcomed by the Welsh deanery and the BMA Welsh junior doctors committee. The process is working well in Wales and we now have more than 2,200 doctors in training in Wales. The number of training places in Wales will rise from 261 last year to 320 next year. The investment in doctors’ training and medical students is proving to be a great success, and that is why we are seeing substantial improvements in the quality of care being provided in Wales and in England.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
David TC Davies
(Conservative)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
I welcome the fact that we are not going to be using in Wales a scheme that has been described by the British Medical Association as a disaster. Can the Minister assure us that any alternative that we do use will rely on doctors’ experience and their proven ability to make people better, and not on their ability to write 150-word vignettes full of jargon, or even—dare I say it?—the ability to speak Welsh?
Subjects
Career development; Doctors; Recruitment; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c242
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of issues, including the provision of ambulance services.
I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of issues, including the provision of ambulance services.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
David Amess
(Conservative)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Ministers on cross-border issues affecting the ambulance service in Wales.
Subjects
Cross border cooperation; Ambulance services; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c246
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of issues, including the provision of ambulance services.
I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of issues, including the provision of ambulance services.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Cross border cooperation; Ambulance services; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c246
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on a range of health issues. I understand that Wales has opted out of using MTAS for recruitment, and that the Department of Health had no difficulty with its doing that.
My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on a range of health issues. I understand that Wales has opted out of using MTAS for recruitment, and that the Department of Health had no difficulty with its doing that.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Hywel Williams
(Plaid Cymru)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on Welsh priorities in respect of the medical training application service.
Subjects
Career development; Doctors; Recruitment; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c242
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The Assembly Government are investing record amounts in the NHS in Wales and are delivering real improvements in the standard of service to patients. Waiting times for Welsh patients in English hospitals are falling.
The Assembly Government are investing record amounts in the NHS in Wales and are delivering real improvements in the standard of service to patients. Waiting times for Welsh patients in English hospitals are falling.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Philip Dunne
(Conservative)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
If he will make a statement on hospital waiting times for Welsh patients in hospitals in England.
Subjects
Hospitals; Waiting lists; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c243
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry on encouraging Welsh farmers to submit evidence to the Competition Commission's inquiry into supermarket practices.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry on encouraging Welsh farmers to submit evidence to the Competition Commission's inquiry into supermarket practices.
Asked by
Mark Williams
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Answering body
Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 May 2007
For answer on
6 June 2007
Answered on
6 June 2007
I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues at the Department of Trade and Industry to discuss a variety of issues.
Subjects
Agriculture; Wales; Retail trade; Supermarkets
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
140347; 461 c518-9W
House
House of Commons
What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Ministers on cross-border issues affecting the ambulance service in Wales.
What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Ministers on cross-border issues affecting the ambulance service in Wales.
Asked by
David Amess
(Conservative)
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 May 2007
For answer on
6 June 2007
Answered on
6 June 2007
I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of issues, including the provision of ambulance services.
Subjects
Cross border cooperation; Ambulance services; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c246; 140342
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Ministers on the interaction between the ambulance service in Wales and neighbouring services in England.
What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Ministers on the interaction between the ambulance service in Wales and neighbouring services in England.
Asked by
Lord Harper
(Conservative)
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 May 2007
For answer on
6 June 2007
Answered on
6 June 2007
I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services on a range of issues, including the provision of ambulance services.
Subjects
Cross border cooperation; Ambulance services; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c246; 140339
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
If he will make a statement on hospital waiting times for Welsh patients in hospitals in England.
If he will make a statement on hospital waiting times for Welsh patients in hospitals in England.
Asked by
Philip Dunne
(Conservative)
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 May 2007
For answer on
6 June 2007
Answered on
6 June 2007
The Assembly Government are investing record amounts in the NHS in Wales and are delivering real improvements in the standard of service to patients. Waiting times for Welsh patients in English hospitals are falling.
Subjects
Hospitals; Waiting lists; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c243; 140336
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on Welsh priorities in respect of the medical training application service.
What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on Welsh priorities in respect of the medical training application service.
Asked by
Hywel Williams
(Plaid Cymru)
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 May 2007
For answer on
6 June 2007
Answered on
6 June 2007
My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on a range of health issues. I understand that Wales has opted out of using MTAS for recruitment, and that the Department of Health had no difficulty with its doing that.
Subjects
Career development; Doctors; Recruitment; Wales
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
461 c242; 140335
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has held with the First Minister on cockling.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has held with the First Minister on cockling.
Asked by
Ben Chapman
(Labour)
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Answering body
Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 May 2007
For answer on
6 June 2007
Answered on
6 June 2007
My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including marine and environmental matters.
Subjects
Inshore fishing; Wales; Cockles
Date
6 June 2007
Reference
140341; 461 c518W
House
House of Commons
I agree with everything that my right hon. Friend has said. I know from the hard work that he did in ensuring the passage of legislation to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses that he is an expert in the field. The facts are clear: businesses in Wales are growing and are being created faster than ever before, and all the surveys indicate that the Government’s regime is working.
Of course we will resist any attempts to gold-plate European regulation. We will continue with the formula—the partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government and the Labour Government here in Westminster—which has proved so successful, putting 138,000 more people in work than was the case 10 years ago.
I agree with everything that my right hon. Friend has said. I know from the hard work that he did in ensuring the passage of legislation to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses that he is an expert in the field. The facts are clear: businesses in Wales are growing and are being created faster than ever before, and all the surveys indicate that the Government’s regime is working.
Of course we will resist any attempts to gold-plate European regulation. We will continue with the formula—the partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government and the Labour Government here in Westminster—which has proved so successful, putting 138,000 more people in work than was the case 10 years ago.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Alun Michael
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Will my hon. Friend remind Conservative Members that it was a Conservative Government who devastated business and industry in Wales, although siren voices suggested that measures such as the minimum wage would devastate business and industry rather than introducing fairness? Will he restate this Government’s policy of introducing measures from European directives properly, not gold-plating them but ensuring that there is fairness in industry for all, including business?
Subjects
Business; Regulation; Wales
Date
2 May 2007
Reference
459 c1495-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Surprisingly, I agree, yet again, with my hon. Friend. What he says it true, although that success is happening not just in Newport but in my constituency: we now have record levels of employment where we used to have record levels of unemployment. Indeed, it is true throughout Wales. Ibsen Biopharm has announced an investment of more than £39 million in a pharmaceutical plant in Wrexham, and the Amazon investment was announced only last month.
Industry recognises that Wales is a good place in which to invest. We are seeing existing industries growing and new industries being created, because—as my hon. Friend says—of the wonderful partnership between Westminster and Cardiff.
Surprisingly, I agree, yet again, with my hon. Friend. What he says it true, although that success is happening not just in Newport but in my constituency: we now have record levels of employment where we used to have record levels of unemployment. Indeed, it is true throughout Wales. Ibsen Biopharm has announced an investment of more than £39 million in a pharmaceutical plant in Wrexham, and the Amazon investment was announced only last month.
Industry recognises that Wales is a good place in which to invest. We are seeing existing industries growing and new industries being created, because—as my hon. Friend says—of the wonderful partnership between Westminster and Cardiff.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Paul Flynn
(Labour)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is not the misery-mongering from Norfolk mocked by the reality of thriving private industry in Wales? In Newport alone we have benefited from a huge amount of investment, resulting in thousands of new jobs in EADS, Yellow Pages, International Rectifier and the Quinn Group. Is that not largely due to the strength of the partnership between the Labour-controlled Welsh Assembly and Labour-controlled Government, which would be put at risk if it fell into the instability of an Assembly controlled—
Subjects
Business; Regulation; Wales
Date
2 May 2007
Reference
459 c1496
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The hon. Gentleman is right that emissions are not only about climate change, but about health and the quality of the atmosphere. My official cars in London and Cardiff are electric hybrids. The Government have produced a list of top tips for smarter drivers which, if all motorists followed them, would reduce emissions by 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year and save more than £2 billion in fuel costs. As I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton), it is important that individuals take the decision to address climate change in their habits, including the way in which they drive and the type of vehicles they use. That is part of the way in which we will tackle climate change.
The hon. Gentleman is right that emissions are not only about climate change, but about health and the quality of the atmosphere. My official cars in London and Cardiff are electric hybrids. The Government have produced a list of top tips for smarter drivers which, if all motorists followed them, would reduce emissions by 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year and save more than £2 billion in fuel costs. As I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton), it is important that individuals take the decision to address climate change in their habits, including the way in which they drive and the type of vehicles they use. That is part of the way in which we will tackle climate change.
Answered by
Nick Ainger
(Labour)
Asked by
Lembit Opik
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Wales Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is the Minister aware that ground-level ozone and summer smog caused mainly by traffic emissions has killed an estimated 1,500 people in Wales since 1997? I am probably the first Member of Parliament to ride a Vectrix electric bike, launched yesterday, a zero carbon vehicle with a range of 68 miles for a 20p charge. Does the Minister agree that such technology will reduce health risks and will he join me and the Welsh Liberal Democrats in promoting the use and manufacture of such vehicles in Wales?
Subjects
Environment protection; EU action; Wales
Date
2 May 2007
Reference
459 c1500-1
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons