Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Wes Streeting and Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Tuesday 23rd July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Wes Streeting]

I welcome the hon. Lady back to her place. We worked constructively on the Opposition Benches together and, regardless of the size of the Government’s majority, we intend to work constructively with her on this side of the election, too. By extension, I congratulate her colleagues on their election. I have discovered that I have 72 new pen pals, all sitting there on the Liberal Democrat Benches, and they have been writing to me about a whole manner of projects. My colleagues and I will get back to them.

The hon. Lady is right that this is not just about the new hospitals programme, important though that is; the condition of the whole NHS estate is poor. In fact, backlog maintenance, the direct cost of bringing the estate into compliance with mandatory fire safety requirements and statutory safety legislation, currently stands at £11.6 billion. That is the legacy of the last Conservative Government.

[Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill) (Lab)]

11. If he will take steps to help increase the number of accommodation units available for parents whose babies have been admitted to neonatal care units.