To reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for Health by £1000. Twelfth opposition day debate (part 2). Motion negatived on division (219 to 282). Amendment agreed on division (269 to 207).

To reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for Health by £1000. Twelfth opposition day debate (part 2). Motion negatived on division (219 to 282). Amendment agreed on division (269 to 207).

I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman.

I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman.

The hon. Gentleman is talking absolute nonsense. Appointments to primary care trusts are made by a completely independent statutory appointments commission. I cannot remember whether the Conservatives supported its establishment, but it is completely independent. Far from people being ashamed of their politics, if people in his party, my party...

The hon. Gentleman is talking absolute nonsense. Appointments to primary care trusts are made by a completely independent statutory appointments commission. I cannot remember whether the Conservatives supported its establishment, but it is completely independent. Far from people being ashamed of their politics, if people in his party, my party...

I beg to move,"That the salary of the Secretary of State for Health should be reduced by £1,000." The purpose of the motion is to force the resignation of the Secretary of State. I am sorry that it has come to that. Members on both sides of the House will...

I beg to move,"That the salary of the Secretary of State for Health should be reduced by £1,000." The purpose of the motion is to force the resignation of the Secretary of State. I am sorry that it has come to that. Members on both sides of the House will...

The hon. Gentleman is wrong to say that all the new hospitals have been funded through PFI, but I am pleased to say that Russells Hall, the brand new £200 million hospital in Dudley, has been. Is his message to the people of Dudley, who will read whatever he says...

The hon. Gentleman is wrong to say that all the new hospitals have been funded through PFI, but I am pleased to say that Russells Hall, the brand new £200 million hospital in Dudley, has been. Is his message to the people of Dudley, who will read whatever he says...

That was another good debate—at least until the last contribution—and another health debate in Conservative time. There was an unprecedented show of strength by Cabinet colleagues in feigned support for the Secretary of State’s valedictory performance, but we have to acknowledge the unprecedented scenes for which she is responsible. Thousands...

That was another good debate—at least until the last contribution—and another health debate in Conservative time. There was an unprecedented show of strength by Cabinet colleagues in feigned support for the Secretary of State’s valedictory performance, but we have to acknowledge the unprecedented scenes for which she is responsible. Thousands...

We have consistently supported the Government on increased investment in the health service, but the over-reliance on PFI has been a mistake. The hon. Gentleman might want to listen to the comments of Bob Ricketts, the head of capacity development at the Department of Health. In June 2005, he said:"““I...

We have consistently supported the Government on increased investment in the health service, but the over-reliance on PFI has been a mistake. The hon. Gentleman might want to listen to the comments of Bob Ricketts, the head of capacity development at the Department of Health. In June 2005, he said:"““I...

That is a ludicrous suggestion. We oppose over-reliance on PFI, as do the Conservatives. We entirely support the building of that new hospital, but investment in health facilities does not always have to be done using PFI—that is a remarkable argument. Other finance mechanisms can be used.

That is a ludicrous suggestion. We oppose over-reliance on PFI, as do the Conservatives. We entirely support the building of that new hospital, but investment in health facilities does not always have to be done using PFI—that is a remarkable argument. Other finance mechanisms can be used.

The hon. Gentleman may be aware that there has been a lot of controversy about Leeds children’s hospital, which is a proposed PFI development, and that one of his colleagues, the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Greg Mulholland), has been pushing hard for it to be built. Under a Liberal...

The hon. Gentleman may be aware that there has been a lot of controversy about Leeds children’s hospital, which is a proposed PFI development, and that one of his colleagues, the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Greg Mulholland), has been pushing hard for it to be built. Under a Liberal...

I am not in a position to answer a question about one local hospital. Does the hon. Gentleman disagree with his own Front Benchers, who have also drawn attention to the cost of PFI? He seems to be in something of a muddle.

I am not in a position to answer a question about one local hospital. Does the hon. Gentleman disagree with his own Front Benchers, who have also drawn attention to the cost of PFI? He seems to be in something of a muddle.

Answer the question.

Answer the question.

I will not give way again on that point. Spending on PFI schemes is projected to be £17.8 billion by 2014-2015. It has not been costed, yet it is imposing an enormous burden on local health economies.

I will not give way again on that point. Spending on PFI schemes is projected to be £17.8 billion by 2014-2015. It has not been costed, yet it is imposing an enormous burden on local health economies.

Thanks to the help of the Prime Minister, the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), and others, my constituency is benefiting from a £143 million investment in new facilities and new build at Broomfield hospital. If the hon. Gentleman had been Secretary of State, would he...

Thanks to the help of the Prime Minister, the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), and others, my constituency is benefiting from a £143 million investment in new facilities and new build at Broomfield hospital. If the hon. Gentleman had been Secretary of State, would he...

My point is simply that we have relied entirely on PFI. The National Audit Office and the hon. Gentleman’s own party—

My point is simply that we have relied entirely on PFI. The National Audit Office and the hon. Gentleman’s own party—

I am told by doctors in accident and emergency departments that they follow protocols in those circumstances. If necessary, my notes could be e-mailed from another part of the country. In 2000, we had the NHS plan, part of which was to create 100 new hospitals by 2010. That was...

I am told by doctors in accident and emergency departments that they follow protocols in those circumstances. If necessary, my notes could be e-mailed from another part of the country. In 2000, we had the NHS plan, part of which was to create 100 new hospitals by 2010. That was...

That is a very opportune intervention, and I entirely accept the point made by the hon. Gentleman. In any system that tries to decentralise control and accountability there should be a role for the centre, too. It is a national health service, after all, and those specialist areas are particularly...

That is a very opportune intervention, and I entirely accept the point made by the hon. Gentleman. In any system that tries to decentralise control and accountability there should be a role for the centre, too. It is a national health service, after all, and those specialist areas are particularly...

The hon. Gentleman has just highlighted an unwelcome imposition from the centre, and it would be fair to say that he—and there are such people in all parties in the House—subscribes to the doctrine of localism. May I, however, in all honesty, put it to him and to the Secretary...

The hon. Gentleman has just highlighted an unwelcome imposition from the centre, and it would be fair to say that he—and there are such people in all parties in the House—subscribes to the doctrine of localism. May I, however, in all honesty, put it to him and to the Secretary...

I am grateful that the hon. Gentleman at least acknowledged that there have been frustrations. I repeat that if one talks to any group of doctors, they are enormously frustrated with the system and the way in which it has been imposed centrally. When I hear that there has never...

I am grateful that the hon. Gentleman at least acknowledged that there have been frustrations. I repeat that if one talks to any group of doctors, they are enormously frustrated with the system and the way in which it has been imposed centrally. When I hear that there has never...