Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Martyn Day

Tuesday 1st November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I know we are bedding back in, but Front Benchers have to think about Back Benchers. These are their questions as well, so please let us make sure that I can call as many of them as possible.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

The Scottish Government introduced new national guidelines to make it easier for retiring NHS staff to return to support the NHS, while drawing their pensions. However, there is a substantive issue of pension tax rules pushing senior clinicians to reduce their commitments or retire early. As we know, pension taxation is a wholly reserved matter, so will the Minister address this issue with Cabinet colleagues in order to find a permanent solution that will allow us to help the NHS retain senior staff?

[Steve Barclay]

Pensions are an important issue, and I shall be meeting the Chancellor later today.

Economy Update

Debate between Steve Barclay and Martyn Day

Wednesday 16th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP) [V]]

Last year, when faced with the second wave of covid-19, the Scottish Government called for an extension of furlough as Scotland went into a further lockdown. However, the Tories only extended the scheme when it was clear that the south of England needed to be placed under tighter restrictions. Does the Minister agree that if Scotland is to be treated as an equal partner in the United Kingdom, furlough must be available if and when we need it?

[Steve Barclay]

The furlough is available—it extends to the end of September—but the hon. Gentleman seems to be suggesting that it is there almost indefinitely, as opposed to being an exceptional measure in response to the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic. Given the wider fiscal cost, not least the £352 billion spent to date, I do not think that that would be fiscally responsible.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Martyn Day

Thursday 24th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

12. Whether the Government plan to bring forward legislative proposals to hold a second referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

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

The Government will not hold a second referendum, and will not introduce any legislation to enable one to be held.

[Martyn Day]

I kind of expected that answer from the Secretary of State. However, the Prime Minister will return to Parliament in a week’s time and expect MPs to vote again on her deal. If it is acceptable for them to have a second vote, why is it not acceptable for the public to have one?

[Stephen Barclay]

It seems to me that some MPs do not want a second vote. They had already voted to give the British public a say in the referendum; then they voted to trigger article 50, and then they voted to include the date in the Bill that became the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. It is not really a great look for the public for people to say, “We got it wrong three times, but give us a fourth go.”

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Martyn Day

Thursday 6th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Barclay]

The hon. Gentleman has clearly not read the transcript of my session at the Select Committee. What he will see from that is that the role of the Department is not constrained to merely the domestic side, although that is of huge significance. We are also focused on moving forward on the political declaration and looking to the future. Yes, the withdrawal agreement deals with the winding-down of our relationship of over 40 years with the European Union, but we are also focused on taking forward the political declaration to deliver on the future trading relationship that we want with our closest trading neighbour.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the potential effect on the Scottish economy of the proposed abolition of the free movement of people between the UK and the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Barclay and Martyn Day

Tuesday 19th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

1. What steps he has taken to tackle NHS workforce shortages.

[The Minister for Health (Stephen Barclay)]

NHS England, NHS Improvement and Health Education England are working with trusts on a range of recruitment, retention and return-to-practice programmes to ensure that the required workforce are in place to deliver safe and effective services.

[Martyn Day]

The nursing vacancy rate in England is more than double that in Scotland, with one in 10 positions unfilled. The Royal College of Nursing has welcomed the Scottish Government’s Health And Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill, which will enshrine safe staffing levels in law. Will the Minister now follow the Scottish Government’s example and bring such a provision into law for NHS England?

[Stephen Barclay]

I fear that the hon. Gentleman wrote his question before yesterday’s announcement. I thought that he might have started by welcoming the additional £2 billion of investment that Scotland’s NHS will be receiving. We are making historic investment in recruitment, which is why we are opening five new medical schools in England, training 1,500 new medical doctors, taking initiatives such as on apprenticeships and opening new pathways into clinical roles.