Health and Social Care Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Health and Social Care

Alison Thewliss Excerpts
Tuesday 7th September 2021

(2 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend is completely right and speaks for colleagues across the House: we need to reform the system so that GPs see the right people at the right time and in the right numbers.

Alison Thewliss Portrait Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)
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Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses has said that these plans unquestionably mean fewer jobs and economic damage and that they are “devastating” for businesses trying to

“get back on their feet”.

Why is the Prime Minister intent on damaging the very fragile recovery we have had for the past year?

Boris Johnson Portrait The Prime Minister
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I disagree vehemently with what the hon. Lady says because the economy is coming back much more strongly than many predicted, including the Office for Budget Responsibility, which is a good thing. If we had followed the advice from the Labour party we would still be in lockdown, but we are seeing growth returning and jobs being created, and I do not believe anything in this plan will do anything to dent that confidence. On the contrary, businesses want to know that their workforce have the security of a good health and social care plan to back them up, and that is what this Government are providing.