Debates between Wes Streeting and Steff Aquarone during the 2024 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Wes Streeting and Steff Aquarone
Tuesday 23rd July 2024

(4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Wes Streeting Portrait Wes Streeting
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I could not have picked a better example of the previous Government’s desperately low ceiling of ambition than the fact that, after 14 years, they laud their triumph of dental vans roaming the country in the absence of actual dentists and dental surgeries. What an absolute disgrace. I accept that the shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care was just the last in a very long list of Health and Social Care Secretaries who had the chance to fix the problems. It was not all on her, and it is important that I say that—not least because of the Conservative leadership election that will be taking place soon.

I congratulate the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Meriden and Solihull East (Saqib Bhatti), on his appointment, but he sat behind Secretaries of State as their Parliamentary Private Secretary year after year, week after week, looking at the utterly abysmal failure of their record. When it comes to criticising this Government on the actions that we will take, the Conservatives do not have a leg to stand on.

Steff Aquarone Portrait Steff Aquarone (North Norfolk) (LD)
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2. What steps his Department plans to take to improve access to NHS dentists.