Autumn Statement

Debate between Marsha De Cordova and Jeremy Hunt

Wednesday 22nd November 2023 Commons Chamber

[Jeremy Hunt]

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. The whole purpose of our approach is to make it easier for people who are prepared to take risks to work hard, and no one exemplifies those values better than the self-employed. I thank him for being one of this country’s greatest defenders of the great British pint.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

It really is a scandal that disabled people are being punished yet again for this Government’s economic failures, with today’s announcements of more cruel and callous cuts, and the announcement that they will be forced to work from home. Evidence shows that sanctions do not incentivise people to work but are harmful and counterproductive. The Chancellor’s plan will only further erode the social security safety net, following 13 years of austerity, the war waged against disabled people and the hostile environment. Does he not understand that his plan will only punish disabled people, pushing them further away from the labour market and leading to poorer health outcomes?

[Jeremy Hunt]

With the greatest respect to the hon. Lady, let me say that we introduced a plan to help disabled people to get back into work, as many of them say they would like to do, and in just four years it has got 1.4 million disabled people back into jobs.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marsha De Cordova and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 22nd January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I am happy to do that. I thank my right hon. Friend the Minister and all the Foreign Office staff involved in that work.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

11. What steps he is taking to help ensure the long-term sustainability of UN aid to Palestinian refugees.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marsha De Cordova and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 30th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I am absolutely happy to confirm that—and, indeed, upholding the constitution in Sri Lanka.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

T6. The Saudi-led war in Yemen is causing what could be the world’s worst famine in 100 years, with 14 million people at risk according to the UN. This war is dependent on the UK Government’s assistance and support, and it could not be waged without UK arms and military assistance. What crimes does the Saudi regime need to commit before the Government finally stand up for human rights and bring forward that resolution?

NHS Long-Term Plan

Debate between Marsha De Cordova and Jeremy Hunt

Monday 18th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

We will set up a single, central procurement system so that every hospital in the NHS can benefit from the efficiencies gained from bulk buying, but we have to do that in a way that does not shut out smaller companies from bidding for NHS contracts.

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

The Government’s new NHS funding includes no additional funding for social care. The Secretary of State has said that the Government will publish a social care Green Paper in the autumn. Will he confirm—yes or no—whether the Green Paper will include social care funding for working-age disabled adults?

[Mr Hunt]

We will consider the provision for working-age disabled adults as part of our review of the whole social care system, because that is extremely important.

[Marsha De Cordova]

Will it be in the Green Paper?

[Mr Hunt]

We are doing that work in parallel to the Green Paper, but the hon. Lady is absolutely right to highlight it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marsha De Cordova and Jeremy Hunt

Tuesday 10th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)]

11. What assessment he has made of the effect of the public sector pay cap on staffing levels in the NHS.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

NHS staff do a fantastic job in tough circumstances, and pay restraint has been challenging for many of them. However, given the financial pressures, it is also true that the NHS would not have been able to recruit an additional 30,000 staff since May 2010 without the cap.

[Mr Hunt]

As I said in my previous answer, without pay restraint we would not have 11,300 more doctors in the NHS and 11,300 more nurses on our wards. The hon. Gentleman will know that we recognise that it was not sustainable to carry on with the 1% rise going forward, which is why we have been given the leeway to have more flexible negotiations next year.

[Marsha De Cordova]

Hospital wards and GP surgeries are chronically understaffed, and the knock-on effect is that waiting lists are spiralling out of control. Is it not in the best interests of patients to scrap the pay cap so that the NHS can be run with the relevant number of staff in place?

[Mr Hunt]

I welcome what I think is my first question from the hon. Lady, and I can give her some good news: the pay cap has been scrapped.