Valerie asks Health Secretary about £2.2 billion Department of Health underspend

On Tuesday 26 November 2013 Valerie asked the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, at Health Questions about the Department of Health returning a £2.2 billion underspend back to the Treasury.

Valerie said:

“One way to ease the pressure on the NHS is by not handing the £2.2 billion underspend back to the Treasury. Will the Secretary of State consider using it for the NHS?”

The Secretary of State for Health replied:

“I wish the hon. Lady had been as diligent in asking that question of Labour Ministers, who also handed back underspends to the Treasury when they were in power.”

Valerie said: “The Secretary of State’s inability to answer the question is telling. There is an underspend and it should be used for the hard pressed A and E departments ,giving NHS workers a pay rise and recruiting more doctors and nurses particularly for A and E.”