Select Committee
Parliament

This afternoon, MPs will hear about the impact of a potential no-deal Brexit on the health and social care sectors. Giving evidence will be:

At 2.30pm 

• Martin Sawer, Executive Director, Healthcare Distribution Association
• Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Providers
• Mike Thompson, Chief Executive, Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry
• Professor Tamara Hervey, Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law, University of Sheffield
• Mark Lloyd Davies, Senior Director, Medical Devices and Consumer Medical Technologies, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Johnson & Johnson

At 3.30pm

• Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
• Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Chris Philp calls for an outright ban on cold calling by insurance companies trying to get individuals to claim for whiplash injuries.

"Members of the public are being incited to make fraudulent claims and this is something that must be cut down on," he says.

Mr Philp says the fact that the current system is encouraging fraudulent claims is why this new bill is needed, and jokingly questions whether it could be that "British necks are weaker than German or Spanish necks".

He says there is no other reason for the number of claims increasing while the number of road accidents are decreasing.

Mr Philp says he opposes Labour's amendment.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Shadow justice secretary Gloria De Piero introduces a Labour amendment which would limit increases in the whiplash small claims limit to the CPI rate of inflation.

Under the proposed change to the legislation, the limit would only be allowed to increase only when inflation had increased the existing rate by £500 since it was last set.

Ms De Piero says something also needs to be done about the "double standards" of "exempt vulnerable people" in the bill, asking why a cyclist or horse rider is exempt from the cap on claims, but a child or mentally vulnerable person is not.

She says the bill will cost the NHS £6 million every year, and the taxpayer "at least £140 million every year", and "100,000 injured people will not be able to pursue a legitimate claim."

She calls on ministers to "follow the evidence of the experts" on the personal injury small claims limit.

"The bill is ill-conceived and in the interest of the insurance industry, and the Labour Party oppose it," she says.

MPs are now moving on to their main legislative business of the day, debating the final stages of the Civil Liability Bill.

The bill seeks to reform the process for whiplash claims with injuries lasting up to two years resulting from road traffic accidents.

It would make changes to the way in which the personal injury discount rate, applied to lump sum awards of damages for future loss, is set.

The bill has already passed through the Lords, where the provisions on whiplash proved controversial and faced considerable challenge.

The government says the volume of claims is around 50% higher than it was ten years ago.

House of Commons
Parliament

After a division, MPs decide by 208 votes to 123 to introduce a bill on decriminalising abortion under Diana Johnson's ten-minute rule motion.

The bill will have a second reading next month, although it is unlikely to progress further without government support.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Fiona Bruce says the bill is "untimely" and would "completely undermine the substance and spirit of the Good Friday Agreement".

She says the legislation is "unwanted", and the bill would be "against the principle of devolution".

Ms Bruce says "if MPs respect devolution they should vote against the bill" and says it would set a dangerous precedent".

"It should be up to Northern Ireland to change their abortion law as, when and if they want to," she says.

Fiona Bruce says this bill would allow "abortion on demand up to 24 weeks" which is "of grave concern", as babies are surviving now at 22 weeks.

She says the people of Northern Ireland do not want this bill, which "removes the only opportunity women have to speak confidentially with a doctor about their concerns on abortion and what their alternatives might be".

"If we really trust women, we should not take away this legal safeguard," she says.

Fiona Bruce claims the bill would "legalise sex selection abortion", and numerous Labour MPs call out that she is "scaremongering".

"It is far more likely vulnerable women will be forced into abortion under the bill," she says.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Diana Johnson says her bill is supported by the BMA and the Royal College of Midwives.

She says the aim of her bill is "to stop women facing the criminal courts for decisions about their own bodies".

"The law needs updating to represent the changing attitudes in our society," she says.

Diana Johnson says "women's lives have been saved in their thousands by the 1967 Act as women no longer have to seek unsafe back street abortions."

She says that one in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime, which shows how "necessary this legislation is".

"Abortion is underpinned by the oldest legal framework of any healthcare treatment and the law is out of date and certainly unfit for purpose when dealing with advances in women’s healthcare and society," Ms Johnson says.

She says a "modern, humane and properly regulated medical regime that encourages and supports women to come forward to access the best professional advice and treatment, not drive them away", is needed.

Under the current abortion laws, women in Northern Ireland "could face a heavier criminal punishment than perpetrators of rape of sexual assault" if they have an abortion, she says.

She says as the Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat since March 2017, "UK politicians cannot look away."

"Women's rights are human rights, and human rights are women's rights," she says.

"Let there be no hard borders in the Irish Sea over human rights," she says, calling for a 24 week limit on legal abortions.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Diana Johnson is now introducing her Ten Minute Rule Motion on abortion.

It would decriminalise abortion across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 makes abortion illegal in the UK except when there is a risk to the life or health of the mother.

This legislation was partly superseded by the Abortion Act 1967 which gave a route for women in England and Wales to access abortion care, but the Act has never applied to Northern Ireland.

Marie Stopes UK, an organisation who provide safe abortion services to women around the world, say "no other healthcare provision sits within criminal law in this way, and there is no reason why consensual abortion should have any criminal sanction."

“It’s high time abortion is taken out of criminal law in the UK and we fully support any parliamentary action taken to make this happen.”

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Diana Johnson asks what representations the department has received on the potential merits of increasing public health funding to local authorities.

Health Minister Steve Brine says "local authorities are promoted by ring fenced grants of more than £16bn over the current period," and "decisions on further funding will be decided in the next spending review."

"This is not a matter for me, but for the chancellor," Mr Brine says.

Conservative MP Huw Merriman asks if the NHS is in good shape ahead of winter.

Matt Hancock says the government are "committed to ensuring that the best care is given to all patients who need the NHS over winter," and that a priority is "ensuring individuals are able to leave their hospital beds as quickly as possible".

House of Commons
Parliament

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The SNP's Alan Brown asks a question on the potential effect Brexit could have on the UK's access to new medicines.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the UK will still have access to new medicines and in the "unlikely event of a no deal" the government will consult on an approach of licensing new medicines.

"We are fully intending to have a robust and seamless system in place," the health secretary says.

Conservative MP Philip Hollobone asks the health secretary if the number of EU nationals working in the NHS has increased since the referendum, and what will be done to protect their status in the UK.

Matt Hancock says "more than 4,000 EU nationals have joined the NHS since the referendum."

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods asks if the funding of social care is adequate.

She says: "A systemic overhaul of social care in this country is needed."

"We know that the adult social care system is under pressure," Health and Social Care Minister Caroline Dineage says.

She says the government are looking at the adult social care system "closely", and will release a green paper shortly with new plans.

Dr Blackman-Woods says the government "must act quick" to avoid this becoming "a lot worse than it is now".

The minister says the government are "investing more money into health than ever before" and is committed to helping the sector.

Jo Cox’s sister Kim condemns "violent" language aimed at Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Richard Benyon asks what the outcomes were of the October 2018 London Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says this month the first ever Global Mental Health Summit was held with over 60 countries attending, and that the Netherlands have committed to host in next year.

Mr Benyon asks the health secretary to look more at the impact of mental health issues on young people.

Mr Hancock says the government are spending £30m on creating "safe places for those who are vulnerable to go for immediate help".

Labour MP Helen Jones asks the secretary of state to commit to ensuring local authorities have "adequate funds" to tackle rising mental health issues.

"This is a work of a generation," the secretary of state says, "and we're working across parties to get there."

Shadow health minister Paula Sherriff says the government "certainly have more to do" on the "growing issue" issue of mental health.

Mr Hancock acknowledges that there is more to do, but "the work we are doing in the UK to tackle this issue is being well received across the world."

Select Committee
Parliament

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Chair Sir Bernard Jenkin thanks the witnesses for their time and closes the evidence session.

We'll be back this afternoon with more action from the select committee rooms.

House of Commons
Parliament

Tory MP Peter Aldous is one of many MPs to ask a question about how the government plans to reduce rates of childhood obesity.

Health Minister Steve Brine says the government is committed to "halve child obesity by 2023" and that "later this year, we will be consulting on the marketing of food and drinks products."

Labour MP John Cryer asks how the encouragement of children taking up more physical activity features in the government's plans to tackle obesity.

Steve Brine says the government will be encouraging all schools to take up the active mile initiative.

Select Committee
Parliament

When asked about confidence votes, Professor Petra Schleiter of the University of Oxford says the government holds office by "virtue of its ability" to hold confidence of Parliament.

Professor Schleiter says it is "inconceivable" that a government which has lost a vote of confidence carries on in office, in other than in an "caretaker role".

A motion of no confidence is one of only two ways in which an early General Election may be triggered under the terms of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011.

If such a motion is agreed to, and a new government with the support of a majority of MPs cannot be formed within a period of 14 calendar days, Parliament is dissolved and an early General Election is triggered.

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House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Scott Mann kicks off today's questions to the Department of Health and Social Care, asking what steps the government is taking to introduce innovative technology into the NHS.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he is introducing the programme of 'tech test beds' which will "support local collaborations between the NHS and tech companies".

He says the government is working closely with NICE about future innovative technology in the NHS.

"We've put more money into the science than ever before," he says.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable says "technology is breaking down, leading to severe pressures in hospitals."

Mr Hancock says "as always, we are constantly reviewing matters. This government has shown a clear commitment to a long term plan with the NHS which will see many new initiatives."