Hospices (Funding)

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 2:30 pm on 30 January 2008.

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Photo of David Taylor David Taylor Labour, North West Leicestershire 2:30, 30 January 2008

I am grateful for that comment. I declare an interest as a member of the Hospice Hope campaigning organisation in North-West Leicestershire. The hon. Gentleman said that there is no party political edge to this debate, and there really is not, either in this place or in wider Parliament. Does he agree that hospices, particularly children's hospices, are so embedded in the emotions, culture and lives of their local communities that they get huge and widespread support? The Rainbows children's hospice in Loughborough, which serves the whole of the east midlands and south Yorkshire, is currently seeking to raise £4 million under its building for the future appeal. The local radio station, Radio Leicester, which is in its 40th year of operation, set itself a target of raising just £400,000 for that appeal, but it soared past that target and the £500,000 mark and is now almost at £600,000 as the appeal year ends. That is a measure of the support for hospices and children's hospices, and I am sure that the Government will want to reflect on that. What they did a few years ago in giving a short-term boost was very popular electorally, and could be so again.