House of Lords written statement – made at on 10 October 2013.
Earl Howe
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
We have today laid before Parliament the Government Response to the
House of Commons Health Select Committee report into Urgent and Emergency Services: Second Report of Session 2013-2014, Cm 8708.
We believe the NHS is world class when it comes to the quality and ease of access to urgent and emergency care. However, as the Committee has identified, the system faces increasing pressure. We welcome the Committee’s recommendations and the opportunity to explore and discuss the issues highlighted by the report.
This response describes the comprehensive initiatives, both short-term and long-term, the Government has put in place to assist the NHS in meeting ever-growing demand for urgent and emergency services. These range from the provision of an additional £500 million for this winter and the next, to the NHS England Review of the urgent and emergency care framework.
Copies of the Government response are available to hon Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.
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The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.
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