has to think of their responsibilities with regard to the dreadful events that happened at the staffordshirecluding the fact that part of the problem was people following a very top-down, target-led agenda which led to patient care being put on the back burner. david nicholson has made his apology and wants to get on with his job of running an excellent national health service, and other people, frankly, should be thinking of their positions too. >> will the prime minister welcome my honorable friend the member for eastleigh and agree with me that even governing parties can win marginal by- elections if they stick by their leader through thick and thin and campaign hard for a stronger economy and a fairer society? >> i will certainly welcome the new member of parliament for eastleigh-for the period of this parliament. i am sure that he will enjoy making a contribution to our debates. i note very carefully the rest of my honorable friend's question. >> this time last week, the prime minister told me that he would not force gp commissioners to put health services out to tender. by the end of l

. >> in 1997 there were no excess deaths in the mortality data at mid staffordshire hospital, but asy as 2002, there were 120 excess deaths. that figure rose year on year, yet labour health secretary after labour health secretary did nothing apart from award the trust foundation status in 2009. occurred, some of which were patients who died in their own feces. does the prime minister believe -- not believe that the mid staffordshire scandal underlines the fact that labour's supposed claim to be the party of the nhs is the greatest lie in british -- >> order. order. order, order. members may cheer, but first, i am afraid the question was too long, and secondly, i ask the prime minister to bear in mind what is his responsibility and what is not, in a very brief answer, and then we can move on. prime minister. >> my responsibility is to respond properly to the francis report, and i commend francis for what he did. it is important to remember that it is this government who set up a proper, independent inquiry into the disgraces that happened at mid staffs. everyone has to learn their sho

. >> in 1997, there were no excess deaths at staffordshire hospital.t was an until 2002 that there were 20 excess deaths. labor health secretary after liver health secretary did nothing. in total, 1197 excess deaths occurred. some of them were asians who died in their own feces -- some of them were patients who died in their own feces good it therlines the fact that claim to be the greatest party for the nhs is the biggest lie. >> i would ask the prime minister to dare in mind what is his responsibility and a brief answer. >> my responsibility is to risk on properly for the francis report. it's important to remember that it is this government that set up a proper independent inquiry into the disgraces that happened there. everyone has to learn their lessons, including ministers in the government opposite from what went wrong. what i think we should listen to francis when he says we should not seek scapegoats. is and anyd to do culture of complacency. i love our nhs. they are a fantastic art are but in too many parts, we do see and we need tos i deal wi