King’s Speech

Lord Prentis of Leeds Excerpts

Friday 19th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prentis of Leeds (Lab)]

My Lords, like others, I welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Smith. What an impressive maiden speech. It is great to see her appointed to a ministerial position and I know that she will do a great job.

The gracious Speech was a breath of fresh air and a very public affirmation to our nation of the Government’s clear intent: a laser-like focus on growing the economy, coupled with a raft of legislation that will change lives for the better. In recent weeks, like so many in this Chamber, I have listened on doorsteps across the country to so many people—people whose lives have been put on hold; people facing insecure futures, who are despondent and untrusting; and people with little hope that things can get better. That is why the King’s Speech is so important: it offers a ray of hope that things not only can change but will change.

It is only right that the drive to grow the economy takes centre stage. Affordable housing, the skills agenda and the new deal for working people are all essential cogs in that drive for growth—but they are not the only essential cogs. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was right in stating that the new Government will retain the founding principle on which our NHS was born—free at the point of need—and to have a government mission to rebuild an NHS fit for the future. It is an ambitious programme, especially when so many parts of our health services are under pressure or in crisis.

Six million people in England are on consultant-led waiting lists. Reports from the ONS say that it could be as high as 10 million—well over 10% of the population of England waiting for treatment. Procedures are cancelled; referrals are delayed or simply refused. Public satisfaction has slumped to an all-time low. So many people are waiting and unable to work, on sick leave. That is why the new Government’s pledge to reduce waiting lists is so important to grow the economy.

Illness and poor health are a serious challenge for the economy, society and the new Government, who must address it. It is right that a new generation of ideas drive that reform. There will be no going back to the future. Too often in the past, public service workers have seen themselves as victims of change, not part of the solution. This Government are committed to working with the health unions to ensure that the workforce is brought on board.

To do that, it is essential that the NHS long-term workforce plan to train, retain and reform is implemented, and that a similar one is developed for the social care sector. It is essential to take steps to deal with the 130,000 vacant posts across all NHS functions, which put an unbearable burden on staff covering for those vacancies.

In January 2024, 5.5% of the NHS workforce was on sick leave. The Nuffield Trust stated that, in 2022, the reported sickness rates were equivalent to over 74,000 full-time jobs. The main cause of the recorded sickness was anxiety, stress and depression. We will build an NHS for the future only if these workforce issues in both the NHS and social care are tackled.

In the few moments I have left, I will stand up for a Cinderella public service—early years and nurseries. If ever its economic importance is discussed, it is often only in the context of getting parents into work. This is despite childcare being an important contributor to the fundamental economy and the creation of local jobs. It has the potential to boost regional economies. The Secretary of State for Education is right in seeking to revitalise early years provision but, as with the social care sector, early years has a predominantly female workforce, who are very low paid with little career progression. Many are on state benefits, there is a high staff turnover, and worsening staff to child ratios are simply imposed on them.

The gracious Speech is so important. It is a game-changer instilling hope into our nation, from an ambitious Government literally on a mission. We in this Chamber must play our part.