Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ian Roome and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 29th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

My hon. Friend has been relentless in seeking to boost growth and investment in Ipswich and Suffolk. The gridlock his constituents face underlines the failure of the Conservatives to deal with that when they had the chance to do so. We will fast track decisions on at least 150 major economic infrastructure projects to kick-start growth, and I will ensure that my hon. Friend gets a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss the issues of concern to him.

[Ian Roome (North Devon) (LD)]

Q5. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Ed Davey) said earlier, last week North Devon district hospital got the devastating news that investment would be delayed for 10 years, beyond 2035. In the five years since the last Government’s empty promises, our hospital’s maintenance backlog has grown to over £40 million. Given that £200 million has reportedly been spent just on consultancy fees for the new hospital programme, what funding for extra maintenance will be available for those hospitals that now face another decade of waiting?

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the issue. His constituents will be angry and frustrated at the empty, unfunded promises left by the Conservatives. Let us be clear, under their non-plan, North Devon district hospital would simply not have been delivered—it was not just delayed; it was never going to be delivered. Conservative Members know that, the hon. Gentleman knows that and his constituents know that. We have put in place a funded, deliverable plan that will see the hospital built, and we will work closely with the trust to accelerate work. The Conservative party owes his constituents an apology.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ian Roome and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 4th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. What are those two Members playing at? That is absolutely disgraceful. We have started PMQs. Either come in early or at least wait. Please start reading the room.

[The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)]

It is a pleasure to welcome His Highness the Amir of the state of Qatar to the UK. I look forward to discussions this afternoon on how we are strengthening our relationship and boosting trade and investment, including an announcement today of a £1 billion investment in our new clean energy partnership.

Sunday marked World Aids Day, and we stand with all those we have lost and those living with HIV today. We will seek to end new cases of HIV in England by 2030.

I also note that we are joined in the Gallery today by Mandy Damari, the mother of Emily, a British citizen still being held hostage in Gaza. I have met Mandy a number of times, and in my view what she is going through is nothing short of torture.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House I shall have further such meetings later today.

[Ian Roome]

I would like to concur with the comments the Prime Minister has just made. North Devon district hospital is the most remote hospital in mainland England. Its intensive care unit has only six beds, it is almost 50 years old, and it serves a population of 165,000 people. Can the Prime Minister assure my constituents that their hospital will receive the urgent funding that is needed under the new hospital programme, so that they will not face a more than two-hour drive to the nearest trauma unit?

[The Prime Minister]

The new hospital programme that we inherited was emblematic of the failures of the previous Government: making promises with no plan to deliver on them. We are committed to delivery, including the North Devon hospital. We are reviewing the programme to place it on a sustainable footing, and the Health Secretary will set out further details of the new delivery soon. In the meantime, we continue to support trusts to develop their schemes.