LOCAL health provision was on the agenda when Conservative leader Michael Howard paid a visit to Mullion Health Centre during a two-day tour of Devon and Cornwall.

Mr Howard was accompanied by two of the party's prospective parliamentary candidates - Christian Mitchell, who is contesting the Lib Dem-held St Ives seat, and Truro and St Austell candidate Dr Fiona Kemp, who is a GP at the Mullion practice.

The Tory leader was given a tour of the surgery, before meeting with staff behind closed doors to discuss GP contracts and other aspects of local health provision. He also found time to chat with one or two somewhat bemused patients, and pose for a photograph with 15-year-old Mullion School student and would-be journalist Madeleine Cuff, the daughter of one of the centre's doctors.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Howard said the Conservatives would pledge to re-focus NHS funding policies, with less money "wasted" on bureaucracy and more channelled into front-line health services. He also touched on the bed closures at Helston Community Hospital, saying local party candidate Mr Mitchell "deplored" the cuts and was campaigning hard on the issue.

Other topics raised during the visit included the hunting debate and anti-social behaviour among young people.

Mr Howard visited Mullion last Thursday during a tour which took in Cornwall's five constituencies and included stops in Truro, Falmouth and Newquay.