Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Keir Starmer and Tom Morrison

Wednesday 14th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I am proud of what we are doing on child poverty, lifting half a million children out of poverty. The Conservatives’ policy is to plunge them straight back into poverty, and they should be ashamed of that. The situation my hon. Friend draws my attention to is appalling. Parents and teachers are furious that the Conservatives left schools literally crumbling. We invested £20 billion to rebuild around 800 schools, and our aim is that all schools and colleges in England that are not being fully or substantially rebuilt are free from RAAC—reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete—by the end of the Parliament. I will ensure that a Minister meets her to discuss this issue.

[Mr Tom Morrison (Cheadle) (LD)]

Q3. I visited Stepping Hill hospital in my constituency where I met the incredible team. They are working in some of the worst conditions. Staff showed me wards where sewage is coming up through the drains on to the floors, and ceilings dripping water on to vital equipment. The hospital has a £130 million repair bill, and the Prime Minister is the man who can change this. Will he meet me, my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Lisa Smart) and the hon. Member for Stockport (Navendu Mishra) so that we can talk to him about this issue, get some investment and get the hospital that my constituents deserve?

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Member for raising that. He knows we inherited a terrible situation: waiting lists, missed performance targets and hospitals such as Stepping Hill left to crumble—the Conservatives should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. I am pleased that the new out-patients building is open, and because of our decisions, the local trust will receive £75 million in capital funding. Progress is being made. His local trust has seen waiting lists fall by almost 3,000, and the number of waits of over a year is down by 67%. I will ensure that he gets the meeting he wants to discuss the details further.