Results 1-20 of 1,952 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Norman Lamb

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: I said clearly that despite the clear evidence in Richard Wilkinson's analysis in "The Spirit Level", we have a duty to do everything that we can to reduce the health inequalities that exist in our society here and now. Has the right hon. Gentleman seen that analysis, or the incredibly compelling evidence from international studies which show a clear link between income inequalities and...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: Will the Minister give way?

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: That in itself is clearly encouraging. However, does the Minister accept that it is not just a question of the gap not narrowing? Overall the report states that, during the past 10 years, in terms of life expectancy, inequalities have increased by 4 per cent. for men and 11 per cent. for women.

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: The Minister has mentioned the Acheson inquiry and its recognition of the link between health and wealth, as she put it. Work on precisely that issue has been done by Richard Wilkinson, who I understand is soon to present a seminar to the Cabinet—a little late, sadly. Does she accept his case that if we are to make real progress we must address inequality within society?

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: Will the Minister give way?

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: The Minister said that Sure Start and children's centres are an example of how the Government have learned, but the Committee's report suggests otherwise. Has there actually been an evaluation of the impact of shifting from Sure Start to children's centres and spreading them across all communities, and was that effectively piloted? While it is fair to say that every mother needs guidance and...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: I am grateful, Mr. Bayley. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the causes of health inequalities are largely beyond the NHS?

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: The hon. Gentleman is making important points about labelling. Does he agree that there is a powerful case for labelling on alcoholic products? On a related issue, does he think that minimum pricing for alcohol should be introduced? That is a key public health issue and is a recommendation of the chief medical officer. It is another area in which the Government have ignored the scientific...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: I have received a text message suggesting that we might have until 5 pm, so the Minister may have well over an hour to respond to the debate. I am sure that she will appreciate that opportunity, although the message may be entirely inaccurate.

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: Of course. I am grateful to you, Mr. Bayley. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron) on his introduction to the debate and on the work that he and his Committee have done on this incredibly important report, which highlights a number of crucial issues. Let me start by addressing the scale of issue that we face. This country has gross health inequalities. The...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: Hon. Members say from a sedentary position that I am wrong, but when the Conservative party's one key tax proposal is to give millionaires a massive tax break on their estates, that does not suggest a commitment to a more equal society. Irrespective of the extent to which we can tackle the inequality in our society, we have a duty to do what we can to address health inequalities in the...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: I did start my point by saying that QOF had made a difference and had begun to change behaviour, but in areas such as obesity, which involves the measurement of the patient's weight, payment is not on the basis of reducing weight. Smoking is another example; telling a patient to set a date for giving up smoking, and going through certain processes, brings the payment. It is not given for...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: I am grateful for that intervention, because it is an incredibly important point. Measures of deprivation inevitably end up focusing attention on the entrenched areas of deprivation in our inner cities, but they risk missing hidden deprivation in rural areas, which can often be exacerbated by inaccessible services, lack of public transport and so forth. We must be much more sophisticated in...

[Hugh Bayley in the Chair] — Health Inequalities (12 Nov 2009)

Norman Lamb: The right hon. Gentleman says that he does not think anything has been wasted. In referring to the ethical imperative of ensuring that things are evidence-based, the report itself points out that when money is spent wantonly on initiatives that have not been properly thought through, that money is not going into other schemes that may well have a real effect. There is potential damage in that...

Opposition Day — [19th allotted day]: Equitable Life (21 Oct 2009) has video

Norman Lamb: Does my hon. Friend recall the Penrose report, which gave a clear indication of maladministration that, at the time, was entirely rejected by the Government?

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: NHS Dentistry (14 Oct 2009) has video

Norman Lamb: I am grateful for that sort of clarification. It was merely that the hon. Gentleman said that he accepted Steele's recommendations, and Steele says that we should build on the existing contract framework, develop it and, if necessary, make some changes to regulations. Essentially, he says that we should build on what is there at the moment. Is the hon. Gentleman saying that that is not the...

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: NHS Dentistry (14 Oct 2009) has video

Norman Lamb: The Liberal Democrats will support the motion tonight. We will support it, first, because it is rightly critical of access under the current contract. The Minister referred to statistics suggesting that 90 per cent. of patients are able to access dentists, but the fact that there are 10 per cent. who cannot should be a cause for concern. As my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester,...

Opposition Day — [17th Allotted Day]: NHS Dentistry (14 Oct 2009) has video

Norman Lamb: They may access dentists in urban areas, but they cannot register because they are not allowed to. However, many older people in rural areas, including my constituency, struggle to get to an NHS dentist, and that problem needs to be addressed. Everyone accepts that some people cannot access an NHS dentist, but Professor Steele says that for such older people, the problem is of great concern.