Oral Answers to Questions

Manuela Perteghella Excerpts

Wednesday 4th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I pay tribute to how my hon. Friend is bringing people together to deliver better care in the community that meets the needs of his constituents. The proposals for the health campus will be open to public consultation. I urge the whole community to input into that, to ensure the strongest investment case is put forward. I am pleased that waiting lists in his local trust have fallen by a fifth since March 2024, because of the investment that we have put into the NHS. That, of course, was opposed by the parties on the Opposition Benches.

[Manuela Perteghella (Stratford-on-Avon) (LD)]

Q7. Over the past few months, I have been meeting care providers in my constituency of Stratford-on-Avon who deliver essential and expert care to some of my most vulnerable constituents. However, like so many small businesses, they are under huge financial pressures, and the hike in national insurance is yet another burden many cannot afford. I welcome the Government’s partial U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts following pressure from those on the Liberal Democrat Benches. When will the Prime Minister offer relief to care providers and other small businesses and U-turn on the punitive hike to national insurance?

[The Prime Minister]

We announced £502 million to support local authorities to manage the changes in NICs. We have put in £3.7 billion in additional funding for social care, doubled the disabled facilities grant and introducing the first ever fair pay agreement for professional carers, including minimum standards for pay. I gently say to the hon. Member that her party opposed the Budget that provides the money for the funding. They cannot keep asking for more spending and oppose a Budget that raises the money.