Nottingham Maternity and Neonatal Services

Freddie van Mierlo Excerpts

Wednesday 24th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[James Murray]

I thank my hon. Friend for her comments about the role of the families in fighting for justice. She is absolutely right that the recommendations of the Ockenden report, Baroness Amos’s report, which is due shortly, and other reviews and inquiries into maternity services must not simply end up on the shelf gathering dust. That is why the process that I have spoken about today, whereby the national taskforce that I chair will produce a comprehensive action plan by the end of the year, is so important. That will give us the right forum to develop a plan across all aspects and from all angles on this horrific scandal, including the inequalities faced by different families from different backgrounds that my hon. Friend alluded to. I agree with her wholeheartedly that this moment and this process that we are now going into must be a catalyst for change.

[Freddie van Mierlo (Henley and Thame) (LD)]

I thank the Secretary of State for the way in which he delivered the statement and the apology that he issued, which I think will be received as sincere and heartfelt. Hearing the details in the report, I am not angry but ashamed—ashamed that women and babies have suffered so grievously in this country at their most vulnerable moment. It is a moment of shame for all of us. The report and the Secretary of State speak of failed regulation. I was shocked to learn that a “good” rating can be issued by the Care Quality Commission even when there are still ongoing safety failures at a trust. Does he agree with me that no trust should be labelled “good” if it still has the “requires improvement” rating for safety?

[James Murray]

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point about regulators and our regulatory system. The report exposes how completely unacceptable it is that regulators have protected their own and what a serious matter that is. We need to ensure that the regulators are doing their job properly, that they have the right mandate to do so and that they have the right instructions about driving up performance in trusts across the country, because otherwise we run the risk of being in a situation in the future where we are again confronted with what he accurately described as shame.