Autumn Statement Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: HM Treasury

Autumn Statement

Helen Morgan Excerpts
Thursday 17th November 2022

(1 year, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I do not accept that for one second, because these are terrible tragedies on which we have acted very quickly, with support worth £62 billion this year to help families deal with fuel price increases and support next year that will save families £500 off their average bill at today’s prices. We are doing everything we possibly can, because we do not want to be a country where that kind of thing happens.

Helen Morgan Portrait Helen Morgan (North Shropshire) (LD)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

I recently did a 12-hour shift with west midlands ambulance service. Every paramedic I spoke to told me that the current crisis in response times was because of bed-blocking, which is caused by the problem in social care. Given that the Local Government Association is forecasting a shortfall of £3.4 billion next year and £4.5 billion the year after that just to stand still, does the Chancellor feel confident that he is improving the situation with today’s announcements? Will he clarify how much the average council tax payer is expected to put towards that?

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Jeremy Hunt
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

It feels as though the hon. Lady might have written that question before she heard the statement and not changed it. We talked about a £4.7 billion increase in the social care budget, which is targeted at ending the bed-blocking that the paramedics she talked to were so worried about. That is the biggest increase in social care funding in history. As I said, sadly, we were not able to do that when we were in coalition with her party.