Chris Skidmore: The right hon. Gentleman mentions that the £2 billion transfer from the NHS social care budget is not ring-fenced, but I am sure he is aware that ring-fencing can have the perverse effect of ensuring that local authorities do not spend existing budgets. Will he clarify his position? Is ring-fencing a good idea or not?
Chris Skidmore: indicated assent .
Chris Skidmore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Is it in order for the right hon. Gentleman to name my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North (Mr Nuttall) without telling him?
Chris Skidmore: What progress he has made on reducing the number of foreign nationals using NHS services without payment.
Chris Skidmore: I thank the Minister for that answer. On 19 July, I spoke in the House about foreign nationals using the NHS without payment and, having entered a freedom of information request to each foundation trust and PCT, I now have a more accurate picture of the sums involved. It suggests that some £15 million has been completely written off. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the findings and...
Chris Skidmore: I am a long-standing supporter of independent sector treatment centres and of the need for commissioners to be able to bring in private and voluntary sector providers, as well as alternative NHS provision where existing services fail to improve—[Interruption.] I see that some Labour Members, including the hon. Member for Leicester West (Liz Kendall), disagree, but does at least the...
Chris Skidmore: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
Chris Skidmore: Thank you, Mr Crausby, for calling me to speak. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry) on securing this important debate. The number of Members who have turned up shows how important the green belt is for many MPs. I turned up here in Westminster Hall 18 months ago, when we had a very similar debate about the green belt and the Localism Bill. I was delighted that...
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1179W, on health services: overseas visitors (a) how much was owed to the NHS in unpaid bills incurred by foreign nationals and (b) what the sum was of NHS bills incurred by foreign nationals in each year between 1997 and 2011 by primary care trust.
Chris Skidmore: What recent steps he has taken to encourage cycling.
Chris Skidmore: The Minister will undoubtedly be aware of the huge success that cycling city status has brought south Gloucestershire. Could he now seriously consider the North Fringe to Hengrove major scheme bid that his Department has received recently? The scheme will further enhance cycling provision and will boost economic growth.
Chris Skidmore: The right hon. Gentleman has mentioned the £8 billion being spent on administration in the NHS. I assume that he therefore welcomes the coalition Government’s decision to cut the administration budget by £5 billion by 2015. In his speech so far, however, he seems to be suggesting that the status quo is acceptable. I believe that it is unacceptable. Does he welcome the fact that we will be...
Chris Skidmore: Is the hon. Lady placing on the record her party’s opposition to any form of competition in the NHS?
Chris Skidmore: Is the BMA not the same organisation that opposed the creation of the NHS in 1948?
Chris Skidmore: If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Chris Skidmore: Can the Secretary of State guarantee that, unlike the previous Government’s disastrous regional spatial strategy under which 10,000 houses were planned to be built on the Kingswood green belt, the national planning policy framework will retain all current green belt protections?
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by primary care trusts on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 2009-10.
Chris Skidmore: As a matter of public record and as part of the public inquiry, will the Prime Minister ask Sir Gus O’Donnell to publish any record of meetings held between special advisers at Nos. 10 and 11 Downing street since the year 2000?
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils were entered for history A-level in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) maintained selective schools and (c) independent schools in 2010; and how many and what proportion of pupils obtained a grade C or above in history A-level in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) maintained selective schools and (iii) independent...
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils were entered for history A-level in each local authority area in 2010; and how many and what proportion of pupils entered for history A-level obtained a grade C or above in each local authority area in 2010.