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Mr. Hoon: This is a serious issue, and the hon. Gentleman has raised it assiduously and consistently. He has asked me the same question repeatedly, and I give him the same answer. Indeed, on this occasion, he has answered the question that he set for himself. I do not need to add to that, save to say that I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will see through the logic of her position, making this drug available as and when necessary on the basis of the best clinical advice.

John Bercow (Buckingham) (Con): May we please have the first debate on Africa in this Chamber since 30 June last year? Given that, in the index of failed states that was published this week, no fewer than six of the 10 at the top of the list were in Africa—Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Chad and Somalia—is it not time for the House again to consider how the British Government, working multilaterally, might address the fragility of those states, which is damaging to their own citizens and a source of wider regional instability?

Mr. Hoon: I had not realised that quite so much time had elapsed since I last granted the hon. Gentleman's request for a debate on Africa. This is a matter that the Government take enormously seriously. As we speak, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development is in Abuja to do precisely
 
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what the hon. Gentleman seeks—to ensure that the British Government show their determination to support the African Union in achieving a peace settlement in Sudan. This Government use their energy, their authority and their influence to bring about such achievements. There is no doubt that we take these issues enormously seriously, and we will go on doing so. I will look into whether it will be possible to have a debate on the matter in due course.

Michael Gove (Surrey Heath) (Con): May we have a debate in Government time on accountability in the national health service, so that Ministers might have the opportunity to take responsibility for what is happening in the NHS? The Leader of the House will remember that, more than six months ago, I raised with him the closure of the centre of excellence at the upper gastro-intestinal unit at Frimley Park hospital in my constituency. He told me then to contact the Secretary of State for Health. I have subsequently written to three Ministers in the Department of Health and received three replies. On each occasion, I have been told that I cannot have a meeting, even though I have written on behalf of hon. Friends in Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire. How can we ensure that Ministers take responsibility for the health services that affect our constituents if they will not meet us and if they will not answer questions in the House?

Mr. Hoon: I am tempted to say that at least the hon. Gentleman got replies, which I regard as very important. I also regard it as important that Ministers are willing to meet right hon. and hon. Members of the House. That is a basic principle that should be observed, and I will certainly investigate the matter that the hon. Gentleman has raised, because I believe that he should have the opportunity to take his case directly to a Minister.

Mr. Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): In the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings, the Prime Minister set as his highest priority the deportation of the small number of hate-filled imams who have done so much damage among young Muslims, and against whom the moderate Muslim community has repeatedly called for action. May we have an early debate on that matter? May we also have clarification, following the announcements yesterday on the deportation of foreign criminals, that the measures will also apply to dual nationals, including the one such imam who now has a criminal record, Sheikh Abu Hamza?

Mr. Hoon: Detailed aspects of the Government's proposals will need further debate and discussion. Dual nationality might be one of the issues that has to be looked at in greater detail. I broadly share the hon. Gentleman's concern—as do the Government—to ensure that those who come here for a variety of purposes do so within the law and do not break the law. If those who are not British citizens do break the law, we take appropriate action, which must include their deportation.

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): Although the results of DNA tests have yet to be confirmed, Staffordshire police have said this morning that the human remains found on Cannock Chase are almost
 
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certainly those of Gladys Hammond. The Leader of the House might recall that animal rights activists exhumed the remains of Gladys Hammond from her grave in Yoxall in my constituency. Will he join me in condemning not only the animal rights activists who did this terrible deed but those who persecute people working in medical research? Animal rights activists are hypocritical in the extreme, because they will have had antibiotics and vaccinations against childhood diseases, all of which, unfortunately, had to be tested on animals. Will the Leader of the House ask the Home Secretary to make a written statement on the Government's policy on trying to control the activities of these extremists?

Mr. Hoon: I agree with the hon. Gentleman, who puts his position very well. The behaviour of those responsible for that appalling incident was nothing short of disgusting, and we all share the concern of the family involved, not least because they have been subject to so much attack and disruption for engaging in perfectly lawful activities. The Government believe passionately in the importance of science and of scientific progress. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has worked with the science Minister to ensure that this country continues to be a centre of excellence for scientific progress. If we fail in that, we will not have a competitive role in the 21st century. Science, competition and efficiency go hand in hand, and the Government are determined to support them.

Mr. Mark Lancaster (North-East Milton Keynes) (Con): Will the Secretary of State for Education and Skills come to the House next week to make a statement on the arrangements that are being put in place to ensure that university students across the land are able to graduate this summer, should the industrial action by university staff be taken? Can the Leader of the House also offer any reassurance to a constituent of mine who has been told only this week that her dissertation is unlikely to be marked this summer, and that she will therefore be unable to graduate?

Mr. Hoon: It is important that students who have worked hard—and even some of those who have not—have their examinations marked and therefore have the opportunity to graduate. This is a vital, difficult and sensitive time in young people's lives, and we would not want industrial action to jeopardise their prospects. I suppose I ought to declare that I am a former member of the Association of University Teachers. I remember once marching under a banner that caused utter confusion to the local population, as it read "Rectify the Anomaly". It was not the most immediately effective campaign slogan, and it caused a great deal of puzzlement. I think that equal puzzlement would be caused to any students who did not have their exams marked. It is always much better if these issues can be resolved by negotiation rather than by industrial action.

Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): The Leader of the House might recall that I mentioned to him a while ago the case of Stephen Ayre, a convicted murderer who was released from prison on licence and abducted and raped a 10-year-old boy in my constituency. Stephen Ayre was told last week that he would spend the rest of his days behind bars, but it also emerged that although he had
 
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breached the conditions of his licence the probation service had failed to send him back to prison, which allowed him to commit this awful crime on my young constituent. Will the Leader of the House ensure that the Home Secretary comes to the House to make a statement on what went wrong in this case, and that he ensures that nothing like this can ever happen again?

Mr. Hoon: I will not comment on the case in question, but it is important that we ensure that the probation service and other agencies are properly resourced and supported to be able to carry out the terms of any sentences that are imposed. In fact, licence arrangements have been remarkably successful. It is important that we recognise that fact. There are always such terrible cases where things go wrong, but that should not allow us to ignore the fact that licence in general works very well and is an important part of our penal process. It is important that this should be got right and it is important that the probation service should be supported to get it right.

Mr. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): Last Friday at my surgery, a group of families from the Croyland ward, which is in the heart of the Wellingborough constituency, came to see me. They are very concerned that one or two families are terrorising the neighbourhood and making life unbearable for law-abiding citizens. There is graffiti, vandalism and foul language. Yesterday, I was shocked to learn that one of the families who came to complain had had their property set on fire. Will the Leader of the House arrange for the Home Secretary to come to the House to make a statement, in this Government's 10th year in office, on how they intend to deal with those problems?

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