Health and Social Care Update

Debate between Justin Tomlinson and Thérèse Coffey

Thursday 22nd September 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

We are getting more clinicians—doctors and nurses—into the NHS, and I have already shared with the House the approach on care.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

I welcome the greater use of pharmacies to ease pressure on GPs. However, with ongoing treatment, it is essential for patient safety that GPs can see what has been prescribed through the pharmacy module on the GP system. At present, community pharmacists do not have access to it. Will the Secretary of State unlock it?

[Dr Coffey]

I thank my hon. Friend. Yes, I will ask one of my Ministers to look into that issue.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Justin Tomlinson and Thérèse Coffey

Monday 6th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

The two benefits are completely different, recognising the situations that people find themselves in, so they will be treated differently. The hon. Lady should of course be aware that this was challenged in court and the court did not go with the person who challenged it, recognising that they are completely different benefits.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

13. What progress the Government have made on increasing the number of disabled people in work by 1 million between 2017 and 2027.

Firearms Control

Debate between Justin Tomlinson and Thérèse Coffey

Monday 20th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

I am not aware of any evidence whatever on that. Across our country, organisations such as gun clubs and the combined cadet force are often where youngsters first come into contact with weapons and are taught to use them appropriately. I am concerned that the inappropriate and illegal use of illegal weapons is a growing phenomenon, perhaps in gang culture, but I do not equate the two.

[Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)]

I met Wiltshire army cadets this week, and they made big play of the fact that the respect for weapons is taught. That should be taken into consideration.

[Dr Coffey]

I support that view. Two of the schools that I attended had cadet forces and it was seen as a privilege, which was not handed out lightly, to fire such weapons.

I conclude by reminding hon. Members that we are not in this House to turn the entire population of Great Britain into criminals one interest group at a time. Knee-jerk legislation might make great headlines but it does not necessarily solve the problem. It does nothing to allow innocent lawful people to go about their daily business, and it certainly does not stamp out all criminality. I therefore encourage the Government to consider the different proposals seriously but not necessarily to say that regulating or making more laws is the appropriate reaction to the cry that more must be done. Let, instead, the legacy of these tragic deaths be a catalyst for a renewed attempt to focus on our existing laws, to elucidate the real causes of gun crime and to tackle criminals, not the innocent.