Oral Answers to Questions

Elaine Stewart Excerpts

Thursday 24th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[John Grady (Glasgow East) (Lab)]

15. What steps he is taking to strengthen co-operation with the devolved Governments.

[Elaine Stewart (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)]

17. What steps he is taking to strengthen co-operation with the devolved Governments.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Alexander]

I echo the sentiments of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The powerful point he made about the ultimate ministerial responsibility resting rightly and reasonably with elected representatives applies north of the Tweed as surely as it does south of the Tweed. I only wish that the Scottish Government would use the powers that they have to do the same and actively cut waste and bureaucracy. Scotland deserves better than what we are witnessing just now.

[Elaine Stewart]

Does the Minister agree that this Labour Government’s plan for change has helped to deliver 1,500 more GPs to help stop the 8 am rush and that the Scottish Government should work with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to look at how the SNP-run health service in Scotland could learn from such action?

[Mr Alexander]

As the UK Government, we have delivered more than 2 million extra NHS appointments seven months early, as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster set out just a few moments ago. Yet we all know that, despite the brilliance of NHS staff, the NHS in Scotland is still on its knees. Today, from this Dispatch Box, I urge our colleagues in the Scottish Government to work with us and actually learn some lessons from our team in the Department of Health and Social Care who are already driving change across England.