Lord Darzi's review of the NHS, ““High Quality Care for All””, concluded that there was a case for a constitution to enshrine the principles and values of the NHS in England. A draft constitution based on extensive evidence and research with public, patients and staff was published for consultation on...

Lord Darzi's review of the NHS, ““High Quality Care for All””, concluded that there was a case for a constitution to enshrine the principles and values of the NHS in England. A draft constitution based on extensive evidence and research with public, patients and staff was published for consultation on...

General practitioners in England are,among the best in the world. A recent international survey by the Commonwealth Fund showed that the United Kingdom stands out as a clear leader in providing the right incentives for high quality care. I know from my conversations with GPs that many are aware of...

General practitioners in England are,among the best in the world. A recent international survey by the Commonwealth Fund showed that the United Kingdom stands out as a clear leader in providing the right incentives for high quality care. I know from my conversations with GPs that many are aware of...

We can try. The timetable is a little tight, but I hope that we can publish those regulations before the Committee rises. That is probably a heroic ambition, but I hope that we can publish the regulations while the Bill completes its remaining stages and certainly by the time that...

We can try. The timetable is a little tight, but I hope that we can publish those regulations before the Committee rises. That is probably a heroic ambition, but I hope that we can publish the regulations while the Bill completes its remaining stages and certainly by the time that...

On the basis of the information that I have just been given, I will gladly give way.

On the basis of the information that I have just been given, I will gladly give way.

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for that intervention. When debating such Bills, it is important to consider the context and to ask why we want to implement such provisions. We need to set the record straight about how we have reached this point. It is great credit to...

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for that intervention. When debating such Bills, it is important to consider the context and to ask why we want to implement such provisions. We need to set the record straight about how we have reached this point. It is great credit to...

With the greatest respect, the hon. Gentleman was not the only hon. Member to raise that point. I am glad that he was able to clarify his position, but other Members seemed to imply earlier in the debate that they understood why decisions were taken that clearly amount to discrimination...

With the greatest respect, the hon. Gentleman was not the only hon. Member to raise that point. I am glad that he was able to clarify his position, but other Members seemed to imply earlier in the debate that they understood why decisions were taken that clearly amount to discrimination...

No, I will continue because I have only a short amount of time.

No, I will continue because I have only a short amount of time.

I am grateful to you for that information, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The Bill is important in setting out a floor of statutory rights.

I am grateful to you for that information, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The Bill is important in setting out a floor of statutory rights.

Once the Bill has completed its passage through the House, we must ensure that people, including carers, understand the provisions that are designed to help them. When the right to request was originally introduced in 2002, it quickly became a well-known factor in the workplace. Indeed, many carers asked us...

Once the Bill has completed its passage through the House, we must ensure that people, including carers, understand the provisions that are designed to help them. When the right to request was originally introduced in 2002, it quickly became a well-known factor in the workplace. Indeed, many carers asked us...

We will reflect further on that point—the hon. Gentleman has said that that means that we will not do so, but that is not the case. We think that one request is correct, because it would be difficult for employers and, indeed, employees if such requests were to become six-weekly...

We will reflect further on that point—the hon. Gentleman has said that that means that we will not do so, but that is not the case. We think that one request is correct, because it would be difficult for employers and, indeed, employees if such requests were to become six-weekly...

Given the way in which we plan to introduce the legislation, that will not be a concern. Two criteria must be satisfied for the provision to be implemented. First, the father must be working and in employment and, secondly, the mother must take maternity leave, then return to work. The...

Given the way in which we plan to introduce the legislation, that will not be a concern. Two criteria must be satisfied for the provision to be implemented. First, the father must be working and in employment and, secondly, the mother must take maternity leave, then return to work. The...

The hon. Gentleman’s assumption is correct—those powers are not retrospective. In closing, there is a myth about the family friendly agenda that it will stop employers taking on women, and we have touched on that point in interventions. Yet female employment rates are rising, and countries with more family friendly...

The hon. Gentleman’s assumption is correct—those powers are not retrospective. In closing, there is a myth about the family friendly agenda that it will stop employers taking on women, and we have touched on that point in interventions. Yet female employment rates are rising, and countries with more family friendly...

I shall try to be as dextrous as possible. I am pretty sure that that applies to all the clauses. The point to which I gave a quick answer concerned paternity leave, which will be subject to affirmative resolution.

I shall try to be as dextrous as possible. I am pretty sure that that applies to all the clauses. The point to which I gave a quick answer concerned paternity leave, which will be subject to affirmative resolution.

We have been at pains to explain to the CBI and others that the paternity leave proposals will introduce precisely what would have applied under interchangeability. European and domestic law is tight on protecting the rights of women, so providing for some interchangeability and for them to be allowed to...

We have been at pains to explain to the CBI and others that the paternity leave proposals will introduce precisely what would have applied under interchangeability. European and domestic law is tight on protecting the rights of women, so providing for some interchangeability and for them to be allowed to...

I accept that Opposition Members have not had time to absorb the figures but does the right hon. Lady agree that, if direct payments cost the taxpayer £75 million for a saving to business of £1.1 million and only £400,000 to small businesses—those figures are the outcome of extensive discussions...

I accept that Opposition Members have not had time to absorb the figures but does the right hon. Lady agree that, if direct payments cost the taxpayer £75 million for a saving to business of £1.1 million and only £400,000 to small businesses—those figures are the outcome of extensive discussions...

The intention is to fulfil a manifesto commitment that employers will no longer be allowed to take bank holidays into account as part of employees’ four-weeks statutory entitlement to annual leave. Bank and public holidays must be additional to the four weeks’ paid leave. That is the reason for the...

The intention is to fulfil a manifesto commitment that employers will no longer be allowed to take bank holidays into account as part of employees’ four-weeks statutory entitlement to annual leave. Bank and public holidays must be additional to the four weeks’ paid leave. That is the reason for the...

I was talking about right to request costing £80. When we introduced right to request—I see several faces familiar from the time spent scrutinising that legislation—we were told that it would be the end of civilisation itself, that it would be horrendously bureaucratic and that it would affect people’s jobs,...

I was talking about right to request costing £80. When we introduced right to request—I see several faces familiar from the time spent scrutinising that legislation—we were told that it would be the end of civilisation itself, that it would be horrendously bureaucratic and that it would affect people’s jobs,...

Well, I almost returned to my script—[Laughter.] I give way to the hon. Gentleman.

Well, I almost returned to my script—[Laughter.] I give way to the hon. Gentleman.

Again, we have taken a power in the Bill because we want to consult widely and listen to such arguments. That will be an important part of the debate on that part of the Bill. Since 1997 we have trebled the financial support that a working family gets in the...

Again, we have taken a power in the Bill because we want to consult widely and listen to such arguments. That will be an important part of the debate on that part of the Bill. Since 1997 we have trebled the financial support that a working family gets in the...

We will certainly reflect on that. The result of the consultation that we published in February was a clear preference to protect that first six months, not least because of the World Health Organisation drive, to which we subscribe, to encourage women to breastfeed for the first six months of...

We will certainly reflect on that. The result of the consultation that we published in February was a clear preference to protect that first six months, not least because of the World Health Organisation drive, to which we subscribe, to encourage women to breastfeed for the first six months of...