National Care Service

Lizzi Collinge Excerpts

Thursday 15th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

I refer my hon. Friend to the comments I made in my statement about the importance of putting people first and also to the response that the Prime Minister gave yesterday about the development of co-op organisations in the care system. I think we can make important progress on this, and I am happy to work with my hon. Friend to do that.

[Lizzi Collinge (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Lab)]

I draw the House’s attention to my membership of Unison. I would also like to pay tribute to former Conservative county councillor David Westley, who I found out has recently passed away. He was the chair of Lancashire’s health and adult services scrutiny committee. I served as his deputy, and we worked together in Lancashire to try to address the problems that the Minister is trying to sort out now.

My constituency has large rural areas. Can the Minister assure me that the problems in rural care will be addressed as part of her plans?

[Alison McGovern]

Could I, through my hon. Friend, pay my respects to Councillor David’s family and all those who love him and miss him?

As I have said, it is important to think about this matter from the point of view of the different communities we have across England. There are challenges in rural areas, and we need to be cognisant of them as we think about what the care service looks like on the ground.