Speeches and parliamentary questions in the House of Commons in the 2009-10 sessionWhile speaking in the chamber of the House is a high profile activity for an MP, much other work is done elsewhere, in committee, as well as a large casework load for constituents. |
Mr. David Clelland (Tyne Bridge): The excellent news that Nissan in Sunderland is to produce the first generation of electric cars is further evidence that the North-East is a region with a future, which deserves to be an integral part of any high-speed rail network. Has the Minister seen the report from UK Ultraspeed, in response to the High Speed 2 report, which shows that Maglev could produce a faster, greener, quieter and more cost-effective answer to the high-speed rail question? Instead of taking small steps to catch up with-
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Mr. Sadiq Khan): I thank my hon. Friend for reminding the House that one of the benefits of a Government committed to investing in our country is that we invest in businesses in its regions as well. I am happy to look at that alternative proposal. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has looked at some of these issues, and there are concerns about energy usage, but I am happy to discuss them with my hon. Friend offline.
Mr. David Clelland (Tyne Bridge): Is the Prime Minister aware that February was designated by the Office of Fair Trading as scams awareness month? Does the attempt by the Opposition to pose as a party fit for government not qualify as one of the biggest scams in recent history? Will he join me in logging on to the scamnesty website to draw attention to this latest example of a blatant "scameron"?
The Prime Minister: The Opposition are a party led by the airbrush and they are financed from offshore.
Mr. David Clelland (Tyne Bridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to implement the recommendations of the NHS Human Tissue Authority Research Project entitled "Routine examination of the newborn: the EMREN study". [308273]
Ann Keen, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health: Recommendations from research funded by the Health Technology Assessment Programme "Routine examination of the newborn: the EMREN study" (2004) have been taken forward through:
Mr. David Clelland (Tyne Bridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health what professional qualifications are required for a health practitioner in the NHS to perform the Ortolani and Barlow manoeuvre at the newborn and six to eight week physical examination. [308274]
Ann Keen, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health: Registered medical practitioners undertake these examinations. They are most commonly done by general practitioners or paediatricians. They will have had additional training, but no further qualifications are required.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guideline, "Routine postnatal care of women and their babies", states that within 72 hours of birth and at six to eight weeks the baby's hips should be checked using the Barlow and Ortolani manoeuvres.
The guideline also advises that all health care professionals who care for mothers and babies should work within the relevant competencies developed by Skills for Health:
Relevant health care professionals should also have demonstrated competency and sufficient ongoing clinical experience in undertaking maternal and newborn physical examinations and recognising abnormalities.
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