Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Clive Lewis

Tuesday 17th October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)]

I was going to ask a question about the shocking statistic of 85,000 people on the waiting list at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, but so poor was the Secretary of State’s response to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting) about the dental desert that I will tell him a quick story. Ukrainian refugees who come to my constituency are travelling back to war-torn Ukraine to have their teeth seen to because there is a better dental service there than in Norfolk and Norwich. What does he have to say to that?

[Steve Barclay]

As I have said, we have 6.5% more dentists now than when we came to power. There is also a quarter more dental activity this year compared with last year. I understand why the hon. Gentleman does not want to talk about the investment that we are making on the elective programme in Norfolk, because it includes funding for two new hospitals in Norfolk through our new hospitals programme and significant funding into diagnostic capacity, with a number of diagnostic centres being opened in Norfolk, which he does not want to mention.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Clive Lewis

Tuesday 7th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

The hon. Gentleman will know that the cost for local councils will be uncertain for some time, not least in terms of the impact of lost tax income. That is why we have addressed the short-term pressure through the £3.7 billion grant and additional funding that has been allocated, including the recent £600 million for infection control.

[Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)]

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of including a four-day working week as part of the Government's covid-19 recovery strategy.