In an exchange in the debate on the NHS, Charles Walker condemns the waste of £8 billion that was raised for the NHS by a rise in National Insurance.

Mr. Walker: When that announcement was made by the Chancellor, the then Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), said breathlessly that he and his officials had worked tirelessly overnight, over pizza and takeaway curry, to decide how to spend it. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the money was given a little prematurely, because most of it has been wasted?

Steve Webb: To get this straight, the hon. Gentleman thinks that the money should have been raised, even though his party voted against it-

Mr. Walker: There was no business plan-

Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman must not pursue the debate from a sedentary position. He has asked a question and must give the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) a chance to answer it.

Steve Webb: The Conservative party has form in opposition, not just on voting against the £8 billion. In the past 12 months, every Conservative Member has been elected on a pledge to take taxpayer's money to buy people's way out of the NHS. That is the Tory instinct. Rather than being the salvation of the NHS, as we heard in the speech of the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley), the reality is that the Tories believe that if a public service does not work, the few should be helped to buy their way out of it. That was in the manifesto on which every Conservative Member stood at the general election.

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