Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Clive Lewis and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 19th March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)]

19. What recent assessment he has made of the strength of the economy.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Jeremy Hunt)]

The economy is beginning to turn a corner after a series of unprecedented shocks. Inflation has more than halved, GDP grew in January and the economy is on a path to long-term growth.

[Jeremy Hunt]

It is not, because we have grown faster than Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany and multiple other countries since 2010. With respect to the north-east in particular, the hon. Lady is absolutely right to say that our vision is to spread growth into every corner of the country. That is why, in the last three months alone, both the Prime Minister and I have been to the Nissan factory in Sunderland to mark its decision to make two electric car models in the UK. Just last week, we announced the opening of a massive new film studio in Sunderland that will bring more than 8,000 jobs to the north-east.

[Clive Lewis]

According to the LSE’s Grantham Research Institute, the Government’s current programme for investment to mitigate the worst effects of climate change will still see climate change damage to the UK increase from 1.1% of GDP to 3.3% by 2050 and 7.4% by the end of the century. To put it into context, that is the United Kingdom’s entire social care budget of around £25 billion. The Climate Change Committee has said that the current approach to adaptation

“falls far short of what is required.”

Has the Treasury made any attempt to assess the cost to GDP, the public finances and jobs of failing to invest for climate adaptation?

[Jeremy Hunt]

We listen very carefully to what the Climate Change Committee says, and we are absolutely committed to net zero. In fact, a Conservative Government passed the law requiring Governments to commit to net zero. The hon. Gentleman will know that we have just become the first major industrialised country to decarbonise by more than 50% since 1990. As well as the costs, we are also mindful of the economic opportunities, which is why we are investing billions of pounds in our clean energy transformation.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Clive Lewis and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 10th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)]

T5. Accountable care systems are a systemic change to the way the NHS will be managed and a significant step towards an Americanised care system, so will the Minister explain why NHS England is having a fundamental reorganisation take place under the radar without a national consultation?

[Mr Hunt]

Accountable care systems are supported by such rabid right wingers as Polly Toynbee, writing in The Guardian, because they are about health systems coming together to co-operate to give the best care for patients. That is what is happening across the NHS, and it is already delivering great results.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Clive Lewis and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 2nd June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

NHS England will be updating the House on the results of that trial. It was a very important trial because it was designed to stop the dispatch of ambulances to people who did not need one within eight minutes, in order to make sure ambulances were available for people who did need one. South Western was very helpful in taking part in that trial and we will update the House shortly on the results of it.

[Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)]

Yesterday 400 people in my region expected to begin a paramedics course put on by the East of England Ambulance Service only to discover that there is no course and they are now £4,000 out of pocket. That is because the University of East Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University could not get accreditation for the courses. Does the Secretary of State think this event is going to help the ambulance service in the east of England where staff are already overwhelmed? It is a critical service—a vital service. Does he think this will contribute to hitting those targets, which at the moment are being inadequately met?

[Mr Hunt]

I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his place. It is important that we train more paramedics. It is one of the most challenging jobs in the NHS and I will take up the issue he raises with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to understand precisely what the problem was and to try to resolve it as quickly as possible.