§ 16. Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North) (Lab)If he or one of his Ministers will attend the Nottingham health network conference on 12 November to listen to the health concerns of the local community. [177300]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr. Stephen Ladyman)The Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Miss Johnson), is considering an invitation to that event.
§ Mr. AllenI put on record my thanks for the way in which the Government have bolstered the local health service, especially by providing the highest ever number of nurses and doctors in our two hospitals in the city of Nottingham and by putting additional money into our primary care trust. However, in view of the appalling statistics that the Under-Secretary recently revealed about high levels of infant mortality and poor levels of sexual education, among many other things, will my hon. Friend urge her, or another ministerial colleague, to attend the Nottingham, North health conference to put on record what still needs to be done, despite the Government's excellent record?
§ Dr. LadymanMy hon. Friend is right. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary will seriously consider the possibility of attending the conference. I emphasise that the ministerial team has attended 152 official engagements already this year. We are certainly consulting people in the field and we perceive no issue as more important than health inequalities and the need to ensure the provision of equal standards of care to everybody, everywhere.