Stepping Hill Hospital

Debate between Lisa Smart and Alison McGovern

Tuesday 10th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Smart]

As my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr Morrison) said, any money coming to Stepping Hill hospital is to be welcomed, and the Government should be thanked when they get things right. The briefing we have had from NHS leaders in Stockport says that the total planned maintenance costs over five years are £134 million. That is only basic maintenance—it does not account for any new building projects and does not bring the buildings up to the current standard that we would expect of any new building. I am sure that the Minister agrees that all the money needs to be spent for good value for money. Will she and colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care agree to look specifically at the project we are talking about for Stockport: a new building? The revenue cost of maintaining that building would be so much lower than continually plugging the holes—literally—with capital spend.

[Alison McGovern]

I understand entirely the case that the hon. Lady makes. There will be further opportunities for the region to fund projects at Stepping Hill hospital through its estates safety fund allocation. As I mentioned in response to the hon. Member for Cheadle, I urge the trust to keep working closely and effectively with the ICB and the region, particularly as other funding streams are available. The trust has been allocated another £75 million in operational capital over the next four years.

Before I get too close to the end of my remarks, let me respond directly to the other questions asked by the hon. Member for Cheadle. He mentioned issues with toilets, which sound extremely worrying; from the Floor of the House, I urge local leaders to respond. I will make sure that he and Stockport Members receive a written response to those issues and to those related to end-of-life care. Members will understand the importance of end-of-life care and what a priority it is over the coming months and years for us all, so I will look into those issues.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lisa Smart and Alison McGovern

Monday 13th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. It is important for local authorities to work very closely with NHS colleagues, as I am doing in Government, to ensure that we have sufficient adult social care. Otherwise, we will not be able to get people out of hospital and into good homes. I ask his local council to pay attention to that, and I will happily work with him on it.

[Lisa Smart (Hazel Grove) (LD)]

T4. Lib Dem-run Stockport is the MJ’s council of the year. It spends £3 in every £4 on adults and children, and it includes the most deprived part of Greater Manchester, yet the Government’s funding settlement leaves the borough receiving £52 million less each year than the average across equivalent authorities. That has been made significantly worse this year. What advice would the Minister give to my constituents when they see the council having to make cuts to vital local services?

[Alison McGovern]

I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. We want to see all councils progress towards financial sustainability, and what I would say to her constituents is that the decisions taken over the past 14 years have left councils paying for failure. If we get that right, we will be able to spend on the things that people really prioritise locally.

Local Government Finance

Debate between Lisa Smart and Alison McGovern

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Smart (Hazel Grove) (LD)]

Like others, I warmly welcome the multi-year funding settlement. As a former local councillor, I know the impact it will have on local councils, which will be able to plan when they are tackling some of the thorniest issues that affect our most vulnerable constituents. We in this country are blessed to have remarkable people working in local government, and the best local councillors know their communities, stand up for them and mither their MPs to stand up for them.

At first glance, Stockport appears to be one of the areas that is worse off under this funding settlement, despite containing the most deprived part of Greater Manchester. We missed out on the recovery grant by 0.01%, and the initial indication is that we will be worse off. Will the Minister meet me, the hon. Member for Stockport (Navendu Mishra) and my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr Morrison) so that we can go through this and work out how we will make sure that my most vulnerable constituents are not unduly impacted?

[Alison McGovern]

I will.