Minister of State for Health and Minister for the South West

Constituency:    Exeter

Background Information

Before his election in 1997, Ben worked as a journalist, training on the Express & Echo in Exeter before working for BBC Radio Devon and going on to be the BBC's Berlin correspondent.

• Member for Exeter since 1^st May 1997
• Introduced Pesticides Act (Private Member's Bill) 1998.
• PPS to John Denham as Minister of State, Department of Health 2000-01
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2001-02
• Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office 2002-03
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DFES 2003-06
• Minister of State, DFES 2006-07
• Member: European Scrutiny Committee 1998-2001
• Stated political interests are foreign affairs, environment, transport and the modernisation of Parliament

Ministerial Responsibilities:

• Finance including: Spending Review; Resource allocation and Financial policy; NHS Financial management; NHS Estates, Capital, Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) & Local Improvement Finance Trusts (LIFT); NHS Performance management; NHS efficiency
• Policy & Strategy including provider policy, demand side reform, Payment By Results (PbR) policy & system architecture regulation
• 18 week patient pathway
• System management & regulation and Professional regulation including the 3rd session Bill
• Workforce Capacity
• Commissioning capabilities & programmes
• Commercial policy, solutions and procurement
• Connecting for Health / NHS IT
• Urgent Care & emergency care
• Primary care
• South West Strategic Health Authority (SHA)
• London SHA