Archives - March 2008
19 March 2008 - Oral Answers to Questions � Health
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central, Labour)
One of the undoubted successes of the past 10 years has been the flow of money into areas such as mine, where medical need is higher than in other parts of the country. However, do my right hon. and hon. Friends on the Front Bench accept that we still have some way to go to make sure that patient need is what determines funding�not simply historical patterns, particularly those imposed for grossly partisan political reasons by a previous Conservative Government?
Alan Johnson (Secretary of State, Department of Health)
My hon. Friend will know that the funding for his primary care trust, which covers some deprived areas in Manchester, has increased by 25 per cent. in the past few years. Our aim is to ensure that that process continues without taking away money from areas without those levels of deprivation. All areas must receive an increase in funding; those with specific health needs�they are usually in the areas of greatest deprivation�should receive more.
We have made an across-the-board allocation of 5.5 per cent. this year, because the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation, the organisation that does the statistics for us, requested an extension before it could give us its new formula. We have made an across-the-board increase this year; next year, however, we will return to ensuring that issues such as deprivation are fully taken into account.
13 March 2008 - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central, Labour)
What steps the Government are taking to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions.
Phil Woolas (Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
With permission, Mr. Speaker, I will answer this question together with question 7. UK greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 16.4 per cent. since 1990. We remain on course to nearly double our Kyoto protocol target over the 2008-12 period. The 2006 UK climate change programme and the 2007 energy White Paper set out the policies and measures for reducing emissions and support the UK's transition to a low-carbon economy. The Climate Change Bill, the first of its kind in any country, introduces legally binding carbon budgets to ensure that progress will continue.
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central, Labour)
Michael Martin (Speaker)
Order. We ought to do things properly. Has the hon. Member for Coventry, North-West (Mr. Robinson) been informed of the grouping of the questions? If not, it would be unfair to him to deal with question 7 now, given that he may come into the Chamber later.
Phil Woolas (Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I believe he has been informed, Mr. Speaker, although I am not sure for certain.
Michael Martin (Speaker)
If the Minister is not sure for certain, I shall leave the questions ungrouped.
Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central, Labour)
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I welcome my hon. Friend's answer, and the Chancellor's reaffirmation yesterday that the Committee on Climate Change will consider increasing the target for greenhouse gas reduction from 60 per cent. to 80 per cent., but will my hon. Friend look again at the position of aircraft and shipping? Given that they now account for some 10 per cent. of greenhouse gas emissions, they need to be covered by a proper scheme. I know that there is a proposal to include aircraft in the European Union emissions trading scheme, but shipping must be brought into a framework of strict controls if we are to ensure that it too plays its role in reducing carbon emissions.
Phil Woolas (Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Speaker.
I, too, welcomed the measures announced in yesterday's Budget statement. As my hon. Friend knows, as a result of the efforts of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at the European Environment Council, aviation is to be included in the emissions trading scheme. That is an important development. As for shipping, we are hopeful that the International Maritime Organisation will achieve its inclusion, but if not we shall have to act, as the United Kingdom Government.