Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Kelly Foy Excerpts

Wednesday 26th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Robin Swann (South Antrim) (UUP)]

1. What steps his Department is taking with the Northern Ireland Executive to help improve public services in Northern Ireland.

[Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving public services.

[Deirdre Costigan (Ealing Southall) (Lab)]

4. What recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on improving public services.

--- Later in debate ---

[Hilary Benn]

I hope very much that the programme for Government will be agreed as soon as possible; it is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive, and I look forward to reading it. A number of bids were submitted for transformation funding. They have been carefully looked at by the interim board and, as I indicated a moment ago, I look forward, together with the Finance Minister, to announcing the results of that work soon.

[Mary Kelly Foy]

Last December, the Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland revealed that there is a severe shortage of nursing staff in the north—there are almost 2,000 vacancies in the sector—as well as concerns about retention. What steps is the Northern Ireland Office taking to support the Executive in providing safe levels of staffing in Northern Ireland, including by tackling staffing pressures, low pay and unacceptable working conditions?

[Hilary Benn]

I share the concern that my hon. Friend expresses about the number of vacancies. The single most important thing that the Government have done is allocate for next year a record sum to the Northern Ireland Executive of £18.2 billion, which is an increase of £1.5 billion. The resources are there, and it is for the Northern Ireland Executive to decide how they will use them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Kelly Foy Excerpts

Wednesday 9th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I thank the hon. Lady for raising this important issue and reminding the House of the impact that it has. I can certainly arrange that meeting so that we can take it further forward.

[Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)]

Q15. My constituents are anxious about the financial situation at Durham county council. The Tories’ unfair funding formula has hollowed out essential public services such as social care, while demand has been increasing. What assurances can the Prime Minister give me that essential services will be restored and that a new funding formula will be genuinely fair, focusing on the needs of my constituents, especially the most vulnerable?

[The Prime Minister]

My hon. Friend highlights yet another failing of the last Government. Successive years of underfunding have left councils experiencing significant budget pressures, and that is felt by constituents, residents and individuals across the country. This Government will clear up the mess and get councils back on their feet. Multi-year funding settlements will partly help to allow longer-term work to be done. But we recognise the importance of councils, which know their communities best. With greater stability, we can support them in ensuring that the services that they provide get to the people who need them.

Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report

Mary Kelly Foy Excerpts

Wednesday 4th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)]

I welcome the Prime Minister’s personal commitment to changing the culture and behaviour towards council tenants that allowed this tragedy to happen. It is a national scandal. Can he ensure that residents, tenants and professional firefighters on the frontline are heard and listened to? We cannot trust those who caused the tragedy in the first place to put things right.

[The Prime Minister]

That is an important issue. This case is an example of where those concerned for their safety in the place where they live have made points, put forward issues and raised concerns but not been listened to. That is a characteristic of how not just housing but other aspects of life are dealt with. We must ensure that we listen to those who are most concerned. It is their place, their home, they are entitled to feel safe and secure there, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are.