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Mr. Hawkins: I think that I can reassure my right hon. Friend. I understand his concern, but I should tell him
that Macfarlanes prefaces its helpful comments in seeking small points of clarification by saying that the policy behind the Bill is "greatly to be welcomed." The Law Commission recognised one or two difficulties in decided cases and the Bill certainly removes some of the difficulties that arose in the Michael Norton case of 1985. I can echo what my noble Friend Lord Kingsland said in another place: that Her Majesty's loyal Opposition welcome the Bill.12.18 am
Mr. John Burnett (Torridge and West Devon): We welcome the Bill. I shall be interested in what the Minister says in response to the points made by my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on the mental incapacity of a person who is the donor of a power of attorney or who has had powers delegated by trustees to him. However, tonight is not the night to be prolix, nor is it the night to be verbose.
We discussed the Bill at great length on 17 March--[Interruption.] Well, at fairly great length. That was on Second Reading. I made a number of points to the then Minister of State and I received a lengthy letter of 29 March dealing with them. We also discussed the Bill at not such great length in Committee on 22 June.
We welcome the Bill. I pay tribute to the Law Commission for its excellent work. This is a Law Commission Bill which will simplify the law. Nevertheless, I look forward to hearing from the Minister in response to the points made by Macfarlanes, a noted firm of trust lawyers.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill accordingly read the Third time, and passed, without amendment.
Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 118(6) (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation),
Mr. Mike Hall and Mr. David Hanson were appointed Tellers for the Ayes; but there being no Tellers for the Noes, Mr. Deputy Speaker declared that the Ayes had it.
Question agreed to.
Motion made, and Question proposed,
Motion made, and Question proposed,
Motion made, and Question proposed,
Motion made, and Question proposed,
Motion made, and Question proposed,
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.--[Mr. Mike Hall.]
Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West):
I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise an important matter in the Chamber. There seems to have been a change of personnel on the Government Front Bench, and I compliment the hon. Member for Delyn (Mr. Hanson) on attaining the position of Minister.
Mr. Gerry Steinberg (City of Durham):
Get on with it.
Mr. Brady:
The hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) has obviously had an enjoyable evening, but perhaps he can contain himself while we proceed with the important matters relating to the future of the health service, particularly the rather chaotic situation into which the Trafford Healthcare NHS trust--
Mr. Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge):
Does my hon. Friend agree that it is rather a chaotic situation when there is no Minister on the Front Bench to listen to such an important debate?
Mr. Brady:
I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I was under the impression that a reshuffle had already taken place on the Government Benches, and I therefore congratulated the hon. Member for Delyn.
I am delighted to see that the Minister for Public Health is now in her place. When she kindly agreed to see me with constituents of mine who work at Altrincham general hospital, representatives of Unison and the Royal College of Nursing, she was not only courteous but had clearly taken the trouble to acquaint herself well with the case, for which I am grateful.
I sought a broader title for the debate not only to raise the chaotic handling of the future of Altrincham general hospital by the Trafford Healthcare NHS trust, but to consider what the episode tells us about the realities of the NHS two years into the Labour Government's tenure--a Government who were elected on lavish promises to reduce waiting lists and to improve pay and service provision in the NHS. They promised nirvana, but they are delivering chaos and cuts.
There is constant spin about extra billions supposedly being spent in the NHS, but that spin cuts no ice with hundreds of my constituents who are waiting longer than they need for treatment. It cuts no ice with the 850 constituents who have contacted me to express their dismay at the proposed closure of wards at Altrincham general hospital.
The spin cuts no ice with the 500 people who die every year unnecessarily because they have to wait too long for heart bypass surgery, according to Mr. Ben Bridgewater, a consultant surgeon at Wythenshawe hospital, which serves many of my constituents. Nor did the Prime Minister's rather flimsy and flippant answer to me when I raised that matter in the House a few weeks ago cut any ice with local people, or those throughout Britain who are concerned about the devastating problems which result from lengthening waiting times for treatment in the NHS.
The Government's spin does nothing to alleviate the suffering of the 456,000 people who are on the waiting list for the waiting list, an increase of 84 per cent. under the Labour Government. It does nothing to alleviate the suffering of the 153,000 who are now waiting more than 26 weeks on the waiting list for the waiting list, up 115 per cent. since the Government took office.
If I can bring the matter more specifically to my region in the north-west of England, the Government's spin does nothing to help the 79,000 people there who are now on the waiting list for the waiting list. Those are the Government's own figures, showing an increase of 76 per cent. since they took office. In the north-west, 29,000 people are now waiting more than 26 weeks to get on to the waiting list. That is up a staggering 263 per cent. since the Government took office. This is a Government who promised an improvement in health services, not just for my constituents but for people across the north-west and throughout Britain.
It is a remarkable day in the history of the NHS--a milestone under the Government--when we discover that four consultants at the North Hampshire hospital have today been found to be contributing money out of their own salaries to fund another consultant post at their hospital. That does not seem to tally with what we hear repeatedly from Ministers about additional funding for the NHS.
The picture, confirmed by the NHS Confederation, which surveyed its members in May this year, is depressing. It found
The cost pressures identified by the confederation's members included those caused by the meeting of pay awards, drug costs and higher pension contributions, and those caused by having to increase funding for additional staff as a result of the implementation of the EU working time directive.
The confederation went on to say that the problems were recurring, and that
That the draft Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1999, which was laid before this House on 29th June, be approved.--[Mr. Mike Hall.]
The House proceeded to a Division--
That, if a Statutory Instrument relating to a Northern Ireland matter be laid before the House on Friday 16th July, a Minister of the Crown may, notwithstanding the practice of the House, make without notice a Motion for the approval of the said Instrument at the sitting that day.
Hon. Members:
Object.
That the Motion in the name of Mr. Secretary Straw relating to the salary of the Data Protection Registrar shall be treated as if it related to an instrument subject to the provisions of Standing Order No. 118 (Standing Committees on Delegated Legislation) in respect of which notice has been given that the instrument be approved.
Hon. Members:
Object.
That the Food Safety (Fishery Products and Live Shellfish) (Hygiene) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1585) be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
Hon. Members:
Object.
That the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1627) be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
Hon. Members:
Object.
That the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1999 (S.I., 1999, No. 1620) be referred to a Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
Hon. Members:
Object.
12.23 am
"declining confidence amongst health authorities and trusts about their financial health."
Where are the extra billions when confidence is declining in the real world of the NHS--the confidence of the real people who are trying to manage an effective service for the benefit of patients throughout Britain? The survey also found that a number of important developments would be postponed. It said that the real impact of the problems would not be felt until 2000-01.
"consequently there will be a legacy of unachieved efficiency savings and ongoing recovery plans".
That does not present the rosy picture that Ministers repeatedly try to paint of what the NHS is currently experiencing under Labour's stewardship. It is not by any means what the people were promised by the Government. It is a rather sorry picture.
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