To ask Her Majesty’s Government what budget they have allocated to the Food Innovation Network over the next three years; and what arrangements they intend to put in place for small rural companies to take advantage of the network.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what budget they have allocated to the Food Innovation Network over the next three years; and what arrangements they intend to put in place for small rural companies to take advantage of the network.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 3.29 of the Autumn Statement 2016, what proportion of the additional investment into research and development will be allocated to small and medium-sized businesses.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 3.29 of the Autumn Statement 2016, what proportion of the additional investment into research and development will be allocated to small and medium-sized businesses.

I beg to move,

That leave be given to bring in a bill to remove the requirement for small co-operative societies to appoint lay auditors; to increase the threshold for co-operative societies to disapply the full audit requirement to the same level as PLCs; to require auditors to report contingent on...

I beg to move,

That leave be given to bring in a bill to remove the requirement for small co-operative societies to appoint lay auditors; to increase the threshold for co-operative societies to disapply the full audit requirement to the same level as PLCs; to require auditors to report contingent on...

Ten minute rule motion for leave to bring in a Bill. Agreed to on question. Presentation and first reading (Bill 90). To be read a second time on 3 February 2017.

Ten minute rule motion for leave to bring in a Bill. Agreed to on question. Presentation and first reading (Bill 90). To be read a second time on 3 February 2017.

I beg to move,

That this House notes that community pharmacies are valued assets that offer face-to-face healthcare advice which relieves pressure on other NHS services; calls on the Government to rethink its changes to community pharmacy funding; and further calls on the Government to ensure that community pharmacies are protected...

I beg to move,

That this House notes that community pharmacies are valued assets that offer face-to-face healthcare advice which relieves pressure on other NHS services; calls on the Government to rethink its changes to community pharmacy funding; and further calls on the Government to ensure that community pharmacies are protected...

We have had a lot of correspondence from local pharmacists and their customers worried about essential parts of the local community such as businesses, but is it not also the case that, with massive cuts in acute services and with primary care under pressure, those pharmacies provide an essential and...

We have had a lot of correspondence from local pharmacists and their customers worried about essential parts of the local community such as businesses, but is it not also the case that, with massive cuts in acute services and with primary care under pressure, those pharmacies provide an essential and...

My hon. Friend has anticipated my argument—I could probably sit down now that he has put it so eloquently, but I shall plough on while I have the indulgence of the House.

I was saying that the right hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire had said that the cuts might lead...

My hon. Friend has anticipated my argument—I could probably sit down now that he has put it so eloquently, but I shall plough on while I have the indulgence of the House.

I was saying that the right hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire had said that the cuts might lead...

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Because she represents my mother’s home town, I will give way first to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston.

Because she represents my mother’s home town, I will give way first to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston.

It is a privilege to represent my hon. Friend’s mother, and he, of course, knows my constituency well. The constituency has high levels of deprivation, and our primary care services face incredible pressure owing to unsuitable practice premises and the difficulty of recruiting GPs. Does my hon. Friend agree that...

It is a privilege to represent my hon. Friend’s mother, and he, of course, knows my constituency well. The constituency has high levels of deprivation, and our primary care services face incredible pressure owing to unsuitable practice premises and the difficulty of recruiting GPs. Does my hon. Friend agree that...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why the cuts have aroused so much opposition from not just Labour but Conservative Members.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why the cuts have aroused so much opposition from not just Labour but Conservative Members.

My hon. Friend has made a powerful point, which completely blows apart many of the arguments that the Government have advanced in recent years.

My hon. Friend has made a powerful point, which completely blows apart many of the arguments that the Government have advanced in recent years.

Given the clustering of pharmacies, does the hon. Gentleman believe that no better way of funding the service can be envisaged?

Given the clustering of pharmacies, does the hon. Gentleman believe that no better way of funding the service can be envisaged?

The cuts are not aimed at clusters. They are completely arbitrary, and they will result in the closure of many pharmacies in some of the most deprived parts of the country.

The cuts are not aimed at clusters. They are completely arbitrary, and they will result in the closure of many pharmacies in some of the most deprived parts of the country.

I want to make a bit of progress, because I know that many other Members wish to speak.

The cuts will mean that patients, many of them elderly and unable to travel long distances, will be forced to go elsewhere for essential medical advice and support. What we need from the...

I want to make a bit of progress, because I know that many other Members wish to speak.

The cuts will mean that patients, many of them elderly and unable to travel long distances, will be forced to go elsewhere for essential medical advice and support. What we need from the...

It may be helpful if I make a brief intervention at this stage. I gave an estimate which was based on what we thought was a possible worst-case scenario. The Department never had any plans to close pharmacies. It was the best estimate that I had at the time, but...

It may be helpful if I make a brief intervention at this stage. I gave an estimate which was based on what we thought was a possible worst-case scenario. The Department never had any plans to close pharmacies. It was the best estimate that I had at the time, but...

The right hon. Gentleman is an extremely experienced former health Minister, possibly the most extreme—[Laughter.] He is definitely not an extremist, but he is possibly the most experienced Conservative former Health Minister apart from, perhaps, the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke). It is very noble of...

The right hon. Gentleman is an extremely experienced former health Minister, possibly the most extreme—[Laughter.] He is definitely not an extremist, but he is possibly the most experienced Conservative former Health Minister apart from, perhaps, the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke). It is very noble of...

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