Oral Answers to Questions

Virendra Sharma Excerpts

Tuesday 25th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Jane Ellison]

That is exactly why we want to reissue the guidance on this matter. I cannot add to what I have said. I say with complete clarity that the Government’s view is that sex-selection abortion—abortion on the grounds of gender alone—is illegal and we will report it to the police if we are given evidence of it.

[Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab)]

16. What assessment he has made of trends in the number of attendances at type 1 accident and emergency departments since 2009-10.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jane Ellison)]

We have debated the hon. Gentleman’s concerns about the A and E services in his area in the past. I want to reassure him that, despite the overall growth in attendances at A and E—we know that there is pressure on A and E—the changes that are recommended for his area have enormous clinical support across all the local CCGs and trusts.

[Mr Sharma]

I thank the Minister for her response. Will she explain why attendances at hospital A and E departments increased by 16,000 in the last three years of the Labour Government, but by 633,000 in the first three years of this Government?

[Jane Ellison]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have often debated in this House the many reasons for the increased pressure on A and E. However, the rate of growth in the first three years of this Government has been lower than the rate of growth in the last three years of the last Government. We are responding to the pressures. That is why the Secretary of State has addressed issues such as named GPs for older patients and the integration of social care. We acknowledge that there is pressure on A and E; it is the action that the Government are taking to respond to it that really counts.