Health Minister to check facts after Farron reveals flaws in Westmorland General evidence

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 30th Oct 2007

Tim Farron is today writing to the Department of Health Minister Ann Keen seeking clarification on comments she made at last week's Westminster Hall debate secured by Mr Farron. The Minister claimed, among several other debatable points, that upgrades 'have taken place' to ambulances in the region, which Mr Farron knows to be untrue.

In addition to this Mr Farron has challenged the Ministers assertion that her information came directly from the Ambulance Service, according to documents seen after the debate it is clear that the information was not sanctioned by the service at all. Finally, Mr Farron has expressed his disappointment that the Minister's speech was informed exclusively by the Hospital Trust, rather than from more independent sources.

Mr Farron said:

"I was disappointed after the debate that the Minister had made some erroneous claims and had not really addressed my concerns about due process. I am certain that the intention was not to mislead me, but I am writing seeking clarification on a number of points.

"I hope the Minister will make clear the Department of Health's position on this, rather than the position of the Trust, which we are all already aware of."