Oral Answers to Questions

Elaine Stewart Excerpts
Wednesday 7th May 2025

(1 week, 6 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Elaine Stewart Portrait Elaine Stewart (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)
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Q11. Last month’s data showed that NHS waiting lists in Wales fell for three months in a row. In England, the waiting lists have fallen for six months in a row. In Scotland, after nearly 20 years in charge, the SNP Government have left our NHS on its knees. Instead, remarkable acts of charity from rock legend Rod Stewart are helping people to get the care they need. Does the Prime Minister agree that Scotland needs a new direction so that my constituents in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock do not rely on charity for their healthcare?

Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. The contrast, as she points out, is stark. In England and Wales, waiting lists are falling, with over 3 million extra appointments already delivered. In Scotland, the SNP Government have just introduced their fifth NHS recovery plan in just four years. They have had the biggest Budget settlement since devolution and nearly two decades in power. They still have no idea how to fix the NHS, and they have run out of excuses.

Oral Answers to Questions

Elaine Stewart Excerpts
Thursday 24th April 2025

(3 weeks, 5 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Grady Portrait John Grady (Glasgow East) (Lab)
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15. What steps he is taking to strengthen co-operation with the devolved Governments.

Elaine Stewart Portrait Elaine Stewart (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab)
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17. What steps he is taking to strengthen co-operation with the devolved Governments.

--- Later in debate ---
Douglas Alexander Portrait Mr Alexander
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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 Portrait Elaine Stewart
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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?

Douglas Alexander Portrait Mr Alexander
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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.