Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robert Neill and Steve Brine

Tuesday 10th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Robert Neill (Bromley and Chislehurst) (Con)]

16. What assessment he has made of the level of co-operation between clinical commissioning groups and local authorities.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Steve Brine)]

The Government want and expect strong relationships and joint working between the NHS and local authorities to make a success of STPs. They are meant to be a one-system solution.

[Robert Neill]

The London Borough of Bromley has had considerable success in joint working with its clinical commissioning group, through joint appointments, a multi-agency use of funding and a complete sign-up from the council, but we are concerned that reorganisation may detract from this operation at the local level. Will the Minister agree to meet me to discuss Bromley’s proposals to build on the success it has had so far?

[Steve Brine]

We are confident that we have some of the best STP leaders in place. I was looking last night at the figures for south-east London, and I saw that my hon. Friend’s local STP is highly rated, both on leadership and overall. I was thinking about him in the gym last night and I thought he might say what he did, so let me say that I am very happy to meet him and to broker a meeting between him and the NHS.