Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jodie Gosling and Keir Starmer

Wednesday 18th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Lady for raising this important issue on behalf of her constituents. It underlines the critical nature of the NHS workforce plan that we will deliver next summer to ensure that the expert workforce is in place and get the NHS back on its feet. I am proud that we are investing an additional £22.6 billion to fix our NHS. I will of course ensure she gets a meeting with the relevant Minister to deal with the issues of concern to her constituents.

[Jodie Gosling (Nuneaton) (Lab)]

Q11. Merry Christmas, Mr Speaker. I associate myself with the Prime Minister’s comments and express my gratitude to all those who serve our communities over Christmas. I give special credit to foster carers in Nuneaton and across the UK for the incredibly important role that they play. We know that their care transforms lives. However, foster carers in Nuneaton tell me that there is simply not the support that there used to be, and that more than 17% of children are waiting more than four years for care. I was recently made aware of one child who had had nine home placements before the end of key stage 1. Can the Prime Minister ensure there will be a robust system to provide consistent and swift care when needed?

[The Prime Minister]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that issue, because every single child deserves the best start in life and there are far too many shocking cases of children being let down. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is being introduced today. That puts children’s interests at the heart of Government policy and I hope it will be supported across the House.