Health Bill

Debate between Becky Gittins and James Murray

2nd reading
Monday 1st June 2026 Commons Chamber

[James Murray]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the single patient record applies to the NHS in England, but my colleagues in the ministerial team have regular conversations with our counterparts in Scotland and in other devolved Governments to ensure that we are working on such cross-border issues wherever we can.

[Becky Gittins (Clwyd East) (Lab)]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the introduction of the single patient record will be a huge step forward in the safe treatment of people with allergies? Will he join me in calling on the new Minister in the Plaid Cymru Government in Wales to follow our lead for the betterment of allergy care for people in Wales?

[James Murray]

I very much join my hon. Friend in urging the new Health Minister in Wales to follow our lead by introducing a way for patients to access the data and, crucially, for clinicians to be able to see all a patient’s data when making those decisions. With complex cases, where people see multiple nurses, doctors, consultants and so on, it can be crucial that clinicians see all the relevant information when making choices on how to treat their patients. I thank my hon. Friend very much for her question.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I should make some progress, as I know that many Members wish to speak this evening. I am getting a nod from you that that is the right thing to do.

As I have set out how the single patient record will help to improve patient safety, I also want to be clear that no Government should ever pretend that things do not go wrong. When they do, it is crucial that the right systems are in place to hold people accountable, and to ensure that we learn from mistakes in order to prevent them from happening again. As I mentioned earlier, Dr Penny Dash conducted an independent review into the patient safety landscape. What she found was a confusing landscape of multiple, overlapping organisations that are responsible for patient safety in the NHS, making it harder for staff and organisations to do the right thing. That is why the Bill simplifies the patient safety landscape, streamlining and consolidating functions to make the system more effective and efficient, and to restore patient confidence.

Farming and Inheritance Tax

Debate between Becky Gittins and James Murray

Wednesday 4th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[James Murray]

I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention. As we know, any farmer who is renting out land or farming it themselves will typically have an estate that includes an element that is eligible for agricultural property relief. The figures I set out include those who claim for business property relief as well, and those figures are set out in the Chancellor’s letter to the Treasury Committee.

[Becky Gittins (Clwyd East) (Lab)]

Despite attempts by the Opposition to hijack this debate, I can honestly say—[Interruption.] If they want to champion our agricultural communities, they might have started around 14 years ago. The conversations that I have had with farmers in my constituency have been balanced and productive in their scope, with an understanding of why the provisions have been brought in. Given that two thirds of the land bought in England in 2023 was bought by non-farmers, does the Minister agree that it is right that this Government are taking the opportunity to close what is essentially a tax loophole for non-farmers?

[James Murray]

I thank my hon. Friend very much for her intervention. It is telling that when she makes such an important and sensible point, the Opposition do not want to hear it and try to shout her down. As she rightly points out, our changes to the reliefs will make buying land less attractive as a means of inheritance tax planning. This means that land prices are likely to become more affordable for farmers, thanks to a reduction in tax-motivated investment in agricultural land.