Mr John Gunnell: I add my voice to that of my hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe). When we considered this matter in the Health Committee, we were convinced of the need for a less haphazard advocacy system that was genuinely independent. Advocates must be independent of the hospital trusts that employ them and which they investigate. We certainly need the advocacy system to be more...
Mr John Gunnell: I rise to speak on the use of electro-convulsive therapy in the national health service, about which I have been concerned for a long time and which comes within the framework of the Select Committee's activities. In view of my impending retirement, this is probably my last opportunity to make this particular point, which is another reason for my wishing to speak. The Minister will be aware...
Mr John Gunnell: I am fortunate to have experienced a painful event: as the leader of West Yorkshire council, I experienced being abolished. The loss of office and the loss of the work done by the council was a most painful experience. However, I can now look back on it as a positive one, because we were able to initiate and implement several arts initiatives, with the support of the relevant district...
Mr John Gunnell: Does my hon. Friend plan to amend the section of the mental health legislation under which many people receive electroconvulsive therapy against their wishes?
Mr John Gunnell: When he next expects to meet representatives of the Israeli Government to discuss the middle east peace process. [90465]
Mr John Gunnell: I join my right hon. Friend in warmly welcoming the change of atmosphere since Mr. Barak took control. However, for the past few years, under Mr. Netanyahu's direction, there was continued settlement building in the west bank and east Jerusalem. In his discussions with Israel, will my right hon. Friend make it clear that it is important to reverse that position to assist the peace process?
Mr John Gunnell: How will my right hon. Friend judge public opinion on fluoridation in a particular area? My family, who were brought up in New York, still benefit from the fluoridated water that they used there. I hope that we will introduce fluoridation and give the right instructions.
Mr John Gunnell: When he intends to publish regulations implementing the ban on tobacco advertising. [81825]
Mr John Gunnell: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply and for the progress that she is making. I hope that she proposes to make the regulations mandatory because it is important to have action and to have it followed up. If the regulations are not initially mandatory, I hope that they will soon become so. Is my right hon. Friend aware that billboard advertising of tobacco has now been banned in the...
Mr John Gunnell: What steps he proposes to take to ensure that new support arrangements for asylum seekers reduce the incentive for economic migrants. [69119]
Mr John Gunnell: I welcome the fact that we are continuing to receive genuine refugees. I also welcome the Minister's reply. Inevitably, there will still be residual costs. Can he assure me that the matter has been discussed with receiving authorities such as Leeds and that a disproportionate share of the costs will not fall on council tax payers?
Mr John Gunnell: As the calls to NHS Direct will be incoming, will the nurse who responds initially be able to call the patient back if she is concerned about her original advice or the patient's condition? Will she pass on the call to another health service agency or person who will then make that contact?
Mr John Gunnell: It is right for the right hon. Gentleman to seek a debate on an issue on which there is some debate to be had, but does he intend to put the matter to the vote? It seems unreasonable to put on public record a division of this sort—something which we did not do in opposition. That could be harmful to the agreement. I ask the right hon. Gentleman to think seriously about that. I would be...
Mr John Gunnell: Will my right hon. Friend ensure that, when it is recommended that a patient has electro-convulsive therapy, it will be certain that the hospital providing the therapy has up-to-date equipment and a technician or doctor trained in the use of that equipment, and that, if the patient has any uncertainty about accepting the treatment, the opinion of an independent second appointed doctor will be...
Mr John Gunnell: I welcome my right hon. Friend's statement, which appears to be one that must give the teaching profession new life and expectations of a far better time in the future under a Labour Government. I regret the fact that the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) made such poor use of the advance sight of the document that the Secretary of State gave him. He clearly approached the Green Paper in...
Mr John Gunnell: I am coming—
Mr John Gunnell: I welcome particularly the fact that teamwork is rewarded, because there is no profession where it is more important. If I may give a specific example—
Mr John Gunnell: In order to exploit his skills, a science teacher often relies on a laboratory assistant who does the preparation work. Under such circumstances, how will a school recognise both the excellence of that teacher and the role of the laboratory assistant in preparing his work?
Mr John Gunnell: Like other members of the Health Select Committee, I very much welcome the Secretary of State's report. He has noted that the educational standards reached by children in care, as the Committee said, are appallingly low. What discussions has he had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment about the mechanisms used to raise standards? Will joint advice be given to local...
Mr John Gunnell: The right hon. Gentleman's comments encompass the fact that this Government are far more ambitious than he was as Secretary of State for Health. It is very clear that our interpretation of health care includes social care. There seems to be a great difference between the way that this Government approach health and social care—I have seen that in my capacity as a member of the Health...