Oral Answers to Questions

Oliver Ryan Excerpts

Thursday 24th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Ryan (Burnley) (Ind)]

18. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reform public services.

[Matthew Patrick (Wirral West) (Lab)]

20. What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reform public services.

--- Later in debate ---

[Pat McFadden]

The missions set out the Government’s long-term targets, and the plan for change sets out the key targets for the next few years. I do believe that targets can play a key role in driving behaviour, and that the focus on getting waiting lists and waiting times down set out in our plan for change can make a real difference over the coming few years.

[Oliver Ryan]

I thank the Minister for that answer. I know from my time as a councillor outside this place that under the last Government, policy was made in Westminster, with very little thought given to how it could hit frontline services more locally. However, examples such as test and trace during the pandemic show that local services can deliver national priorities effectively, so what can the Minister do to ensure that civil servants down here work better with frontline workers up there to make sure that this Government’s priorities are being delivered?

[Pat McFadden]

The hon. Member makes a very good point. It is really important that we change the way in which policy is made—that we listen more to the frontline and work with the test-and-learn approach that was referred to by the Minister for the Cabinet Office in answer to the previous question. That can help drive better outcomes for the public.