Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Lord Watts Excerpts
Thursday 3rd March 2011

(13 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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That is primarily a matter for the House rather than the Government, and you, Mr Speaker, will have heard the hon. Lady’s request. One can also put in a pink card in certain circumstances and reserve a seat if one serves on a Committee, so there are other ways of reserving a place in the Chamber.

Lord Watts Portrait Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab)
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Given that hospital waiting lists are increasing as a result of the abolition of a maximum waiting time target for hospitals, may we have an urgent debate so that the Secretary of State for Health can apologise to the sick people who now have to wait longer for treatment?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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A debate on the Health Bill will take place in due course on Report, but the Conservative party and this coalition Government are committed to investing more in the NHS than the outgoing Labour Government invested, so there is no reason at all why waiting lists should be higher under this Government than they would have been if the hon. Gentleman’s party had been returned.