BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

THURSDAY 9th, SEPTEMBER 2010

Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): Will my right hon. Friend see what can be done to have a debate to discuss the serious problems of doctors' hours and of the training programmes for nurses, teachers and many others, which are clearly not satisfactory?

The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George Young MP): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the issue. He may have seen a series of articles in The Times that have vividly illustrated the problems that face us. We are well aware of the concern about the effect on postgraduate medical training of implementing the European working time directive, and in the coalition agreement, the Government are committed to limiting the application of the EWTD in the UK. Negotiations will start early next year, and the Department of Health and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills will adopt a robust negotiating position.