Contributions
1,318 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHealth Bill (Fourth sitting)Casting my mind back to before the weekend, we had a wide-ranging debate on clauses 1 to 3 but, I think, substantial agreement about the central proposition to abolish NHS…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)We have a clear political and—as I think the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham said—philosophical division here. This Government believe in democratic accountability, in…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Lady tempts me to delve into the politics of future Secretaries of State. They will respond according to the manifesto on which they are elected by the British public.…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention, and I will come on to the power. As hon. Members are aware, NHS England currently holds similar powers, so it makes sense for these…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)Clause 8 will give the Secretary of State the power to direct integrated care boards to exercise his or her functions. This power, similar to that currently employed by NHS…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fourth sitting)I am grateful to all hon. Members who tabled amendments in this group, some of which have not been spoken to. I will address the central points that Members have rightly…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fourth sitting)I can tell the right hon. Member that we expect that NHS England coming into the Department will deliver up to about £1 billion in annual savings by the end of the Parliament,…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)I refer the hon. Gentleman back to my comments. The health service is defined under section 1 of the NHS Act 2006 as not being separate from the people it exists to serve. It is…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)I thank hon. Members for bringing this discussion before the Committee. The Government are committed to ensuring that the NHS has the right people in the right place and with the…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fourth sitting)The hon. Lady pre-empts my next comments. I absolutely agree with her, and so do the Government. That is why we are improving living conditions through the new decent homes…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)Clause 9, which will insert new section 12DA into the National Health Service Act 2006, will give the Secretary of State a clear statutory duty to provide financial, staffing or…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)I will respond to that question before picking up the other comments. If I do not address all the Committee’s comments, I will come back to Members. Everyone would expect this,…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fourth sitting)I am happy to come back to the hon. Lady if I am not correct in this, or if there is another reason, but in the existing duty and under NHS England, the committee’s membership…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)In concluding the debate on this part of the Bill, the Opposition have helpfully made most of my arguments for me. The hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham opened with…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fourth sitting)I am grateful to hon. Members for bringing this discussion to the Committee. We heard about the excitement in our constituencies around innovation—my hon. Friend the Member for…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)I will make some points, and then I will be happy take the hon. Lady’s intervention if I do not address what she was going to say. The hon. Member for North Shropshire outlined…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)No, I have finished. Question put and agreed to. Clause 8 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 9 Secretary of State’s power to provide assistance Question…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fourth sitting)I am grateful to the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham for bringing this discussion before the Committee. We almost went down a cataract rabbit hole, but I think the…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)With due respect to the hon. Lady, it is not a matter of the Minister being busy, whether that is me or anybody else. It is about the operational running of a £200 billion…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHealth Bill (Fifth sitting)I recognise that this is a subject of some debate; we may discuss it further when we come to the part of the Bill on ICBs. The abolition of NHS England and transferring all its…23 Jun 2026