Fifteenth backbench debate (part two).

Fifteenth backbench debate (part two).

A merry Christmas to you, Mr Speaker, and to the House. I was born in Wallsend in the 1960s, and my mother was born in Newcastle in the '20s. What we had in common, which we share with any child of the north, was the impact of geography on our...

A merry Christmas to you, Mr Speaker, and to the House. I was born in Wallsend in the 1960s, and my mother was born in Newcastle in the '20s. What we had in common, which we share with any child of the north, was the impact of geography on our...

I want to talk about support for the 6 million unpaid carers who provide social care to a family member or friend. More people are having to step in to provide high levels of care to family members. The 2001 census, about which we have heard so much today, found...

I want to talk about support for the 6 million unpaid carers who provide social care to a family member or friend. More people are having to step in to provide high levels of care to family members. The 2001 census, about which we have heard so much today, found...

Does the hon. Lady agree that the health service in Newcastle now covers not just her constituents in Newcastle but mine in Hexham, both because they are run by the same trusts and because the services are now so interdependent?

Does the hon. Lady agree that the health service in Newcastle now covers not just her constituents in Newcastle but mine in Hexham, both because they are run by the same trusts and because the services are now so interdependent?

I am happy to give way.

I am happy to give way.

I welcome all the contributions. We have had an excellent run-around of some hon. Members' interests and specific issues relating to their constituencies. I start with the hon. Member for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara Keeley). As she rightly pointed out, the Government have recently announced that they will provide...

I welcome all the contributions. We have had an excellent run-around of some hon. Members' interests and specific issues relating to their constituencies. I start with the hon. Member for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara Keeley). As she rightly pointed out, the Government have recently announced that they will provide...

May I convey my compliments of the season to all Members, and indeed to the staff of the House, who work so hard for all of us? The reason for my contribution today is my long-standing commitment to the cause of raising the profile and interests of all children and...

May I convey my compliments of the season to all Members, and indeed to the staff of the House, who work so hard for all of us? The reason for my contribution today is my long-standing commitment to the cause of raising the profile and interests of all children and...

I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention. She is right to suggest that there can be an intention at Westminster, but the point is ensuring that it is effected on the ground. I will say a little more about that shortly. We do not believe that a legislative approach...

I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention. She is right to suggest that there can be an intention at Westminster, but the point is ensuring that it is effected on the ground. I will say a little more about that shortly. We do not believe that a legislative approach...

Can the Under-Secretary say more about what will happen if PCTs do not spend the money on carers' breaks? The Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow), who is responsible for social care, campaigned in the House when the Labour Government had...

Can the Under-Secretary say more about what will happen if PCTs do not spend the money on carers' breaks? The Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow), who is responsible for social care, campaigned in the House when the Labour Government had...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making representations to the Government of Israel about (a) the arrest on or about 2 December of Mr Nayif al-Rujut, an elected member of the Palestinian National Assembly, and (b) the treatment during interrogations of Palestinian youths suspected of stone throwing.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making representations to the Government of Israel about (a) the arrest on or about 2 December of Mr Nayif al-Rujut, an elected member of the Palestinian National Assembly, and (b) the treatment during interrogations of Palestinian youths suspected of stone throwing.

I am very pleased to take part in this debate. I applaud the new arrangements that will allow a Health Minister to respond to contributions on health. Public health policy aims to help people live longer and healthier lives, so it is a matter of key concern to me and...

I am very pleased to take part in this debate. I applaud the new arrangements that will allow a Health Minister to respond to contributions on health. Public health policy aims to help people live longer and healthier lives, so it is a matter of key concern to me and...

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Health services in Newcastle are accessed by a wide range of people from across the north-east. Finally, the Minister will know that health depends on many factors. The Government's wide-ranging cuts will have a negative impact on people's health, especially the health of the...

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. Health services in Newcastle are accessed by a wide range of people from across the north-east. Finally, the Minister will know that health depends on many factors. The Government's wide-ranging cuts will have a negative impact on people's health, especially the health of the...

I welcome the proposal to ask local authorities to take responsibility for public health—in the round, that is a good thing—but will they get the resources to do that job?

I welcome the proposal to ask local authorities to take responsibility for public health—in the round, that is a good thing—but will they get the resources to do that job?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am afraid that I got rather carried away with this new-style debate, but I am mindful of the time. For the first time, public health spending is ring-fenced. Public health interventions have been cut because of spending by PCTs, so it is really important to...

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am afraid that I got rather carried away with this new-style debate, but I am mindful of the time. For the first time, public health spending is ring-fenced. Public health interventions have been cut because of spending by PCTs, so it is really important to...

That is an extraordinary situation, and I am sure that the people of Hexham and Northumberland would be astonished to hear that the taxpayer is continuing to fund it. I understand that Subutex, one methadone substitute, is highly valued and is traded in our prisons. Although I do not condone...

That is an extraordinary situation, and I am sure that the people of Hexham and Northumberland would be astonished to hear that the taxpayer is continuing to fund it. I understand that Subutex, one methadone substitute, is highly valued and is traded in our prisons. Although I do not condone...

Does my hon. Friend agree that it cannot be right that we have inherited a system under which approximately 300 of the 1,000 prisoners in my major local prison of Durham are on methadone? The reality is that either we give them drugs on a prescribed basis, or they will...

Does my hon. Friend agree that it cannot be right that we have inherited a system under which approximately 300 of the 1,000 prisoners in my major local prison of Durham are on methadone? The reality is that either we give them drugs on a prescribed basis, or they will...

It is a great privilege to speak in this pre-Christmas debate. I have already exchanged seasonal greetings with your good self, Mr Speaker, and other colleagues. I rise to speak about the integrated drug treatment system, which is the drug treatment system for people in prison. The issue came to...

It is a great privilege to speak in this pre-Christmas debate. I have already exchanged seasonal greetings with your good self, Mr Speaker, and other colleagues. I rise to speak about the integrated drug treatment system, which is the drug treatment system for people in prison. The issue came to...

It is an absolute pleasure to be speaking in this pre-Christmas Adjournment debate—my first. I offer season's greetings to everybody. When I was elected to this House, I promised that I would continue to fight to bring full maternity care back to Huddersfield Royal infirmary. I have already raised the...

It is an absolute pleasure to be speaking in this pre-Christmas Adjournment debate—my first. I offer season's greetings to everybody. When I was elected to this House, I promised that I would continue to fight to bring full maternity care back to Huddersfield Royal infirmary. I have already raised the...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to raise awareness of the role of paediatric continence problems in contributing to abuse against children, as was the case in the death of Victoria Climbie.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to raise awareness of the role of paediatric continence problems in contributing to abuse against children, as was the case in the death of Victoria Climbie.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage communities to report neighbours they suspect of abusing elderly or disabled relatives.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage communities to report neighbours they suspect of abusing elderly or disabled relatives.