Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Emma Lewell-Buck

Tuesday 7th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

15. What his Department’s (a) budget and (b) timetable is for the delivery of 40 new hospitals.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Steve Barclay)]

The Government are committed to building 40 new hospitals, which is why we have confirmed an initial £3.7 billion for the first four years of the new hospital programme.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Barclay]

I or another member of the ministerial team will, of course, meet the leader of Manchester council to discuss this. We are making progress. The hon. Gentleman will have seen progress, for example, at the Royal Liverpool and the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, but I confirm our commitment to the 40 hospitals programme and hope to say more on that shortly.

[Mrs Lewell-Buck]

I heard the responses from the Secretary of State, and it must be really hard for him to keep up the pretence about these mythical hospitals. Here is the reality of what is happening in hospitals around the country. South Tyneside District Hospital was award winning. Despite widespread opposition from all of us at the Save South Tyneside Hospital campaign, we have seen a loss of key services and a downgrading of other services. Despite the work of the amazing staff, the hospital now requires improvement. Why is his Government forcing that decline?

[Steve Barclay]

The Government have committed an initial £3.7 billion, which indicates our commitment to the new hospital programme. As I said, I will have more to say on that shortly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Emma Lewell-Buck

Tuesday 6th December 2022 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

I am not aware of any proposal on those lines. On my hon. Friend’s earlier point, as I said, I am happy to meet him to discuss the issue of step-down care and I am sure that there will be an opportunity to discuss any other concerns that he has at the same time.

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

My constituent Margaret Cramman is a full-time carer for her daughter. Throughout the pandemic, she was denied respite care. Now the care setting insists on testing for visitors and mask wearing for staff, which causes distress to some of the young people being cared for, who rely on vital facial recognition. Nearly all the other covid guidance has been reviewed, but the guidance for respite care remains the same. Why are carers and those they care for always an afterthought for the Government?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Emma Lewell-Buck

Thursday 13th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. He highlights an extremely important Brexit opportunity around our £300 billion procurement spend. As we heard earlier, we now have the ability to use our public procurement in new and innovative ways, particularly to drive social value within communities. That will make a big difference as part of our wider levelling-up agenda.

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

18. What discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on formally starting the public inquiry into the covid-19 pandemic.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Emma Lewell-Buck

Tuesday 27th April 2021 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

My hon. Friend raises an important point, and that is why, as well as the fantastic kickstart scheme, which he points out, the plan for jobs also expands existing programmes with proven employment outcomes, including traineeships, sector-based work academies and incentivised apprenticeship hiring. At the spending review, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced £138 million for the lifetime skills guarantee to fund free advanced technical courses for adults without A-levels or equivalent and to expand employer-led skills bootcamps.

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ensure the equitable distribution of coronavirus business support schemes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Emma Lewell-Buck

Thursday 4th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

1. What plans the Government have made for potential UK participation in the forthcoming European Parliamentary elections.

[The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Stephen Barclay)]

It should be clear to all Members of the House that asking the public to participate in elections for an organisation that we are meant to have left would damage trust in politics. However, there is no guarantee that the UK will not participate in European parliamentary elections if the House refuses to support a deal.

[Mrs Lewell-Buck]

So no real plans then. Participation in the EU elections will be the death knell for the British public’s waning faith in our democracy. The fact that this week councils were advised by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, the right hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) to prepare for EU elections is yet another example of the dire consequences of the Prime Minister and the Government’s failure to secure a deal that commands the majority of the House. Is that not true?

[Stephen Barclay]

With respect to the hon. Lady, that is a rather confused question, given that she—as I understand it—voted against the withdrawal agreement, which gave us a legal right to leave on 22 May. It is odd to vote against the means of departure and then criticise the absence of a departure.