§ 11. John Barrett (Edinburgh, West) (LD)If he will make a statement on the work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months. [169833]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Miss Melanie Johnson)I have a number of responsibilities that contribute to sustainable development goals. Those include tackling health inequalities, healthy eating and physical activity. Our public health consultation, "Choosing Health?", which will run until the end of May, will also make an important contribution to the sustainable development agenda.
§ John BarrettGiven that disposable nappies cost the NHS £1.5 million a year and that often no choice is available to new mothers in maternity wards, does the Minister agree that one way of tackling the environmental damage caused by hospital waste would be to make a commitment to promote the use of the traditional towelling nappies?
§ Miss JohnsonThere is no reason why individual NHS trusts and individual midwifery units should not pursue policies in line with the hon. Gentleman's suggestion. Indeed, I have had discussions with colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on just those topics. We try to ensure that all the material that goes out to new mothers clearly indicates that disposable nappies and terry nappies are both options and should be considered alongside each other in making decisions.
§ Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con)Could the Green Minister, in the drive for sustainable development, ensure that the move towards centralised, very large GP centres in communities that previously enjoyed many dispersed small practices does not unnecessarily reduce access to those practices for vulnerable people—in other words, that the centres are not too centralised and that there are a number of different centres in a community?
§ Miss JohnsonFrom what he is saying, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman basically agrees with our policy, which is to decentralise decision making and services as far as possible. There is increasing support for access centres and for rural provision to ensure that people do not have to travel long distances, except where they need specialist facilities that can be provided on only a limited basis. Most patients would rather go where they can get the best possible care.