Queen's speech debate on Wednesday, 23 October 2019, in the House of Commons, led by Jonathan Ashworth. The answering member was Matt Hancock.

The National Health Service

Queen's speech debate (fifth day) on the National Health Service. (Part 1 of 2).

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 666 cc990-1015
Session: 2019-19
Department: Department of Health and Social Care
Procedure: Addresses to the Crown
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: The National Health Service
Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Proceeding contributions: Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 666 c990 (Link to this contribution)
I inform the House that Mr Speaker has selected the amendment in the name of the official Opposit...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 cc990-1 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move an amendment, at the end of the Question to add:
“but respectfully regrets th...; Lord Brennan of Canton | 666 c991 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is telling tragic stories about the impact on real patients of what is happening i...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c991 (Link to this contribution)
I completely agree, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and to hon. Members such as the right hon...; Mike Penning | 666 c991 (Link to this contribution)
The shadow Secretary of State is being very generous, and I thank him for his comments—the famili...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 cc991-2 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely. There appear to be blockages in the system, however, and my offer to the Secretary of...; Gareth Thomas | 666 c992 (Link to this contribution)
Before my hon. Friend moves on from the situation in A&E departments, can I bring to his attentio...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c992 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes a very good point. The targets were routinely met under the last Labour Gove...; Anna Turley | 666 c992 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the pressure on trusts. The chief executive of my NHS in...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c992 (Link to this contribution)
I completely agree. I am not surprised that my hon. Friend’s trust’s chief executive has taken th...; Tom Tugendhat | 666 c993 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman is right to identify the delays that are inevitable in a massive state-led sys...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c993 (Link to this contribution)
I am genuinely pleased for the hon. Gentleman’s constituents, but there are 4.4 million people on...; Andy Slaughter | 666 c993 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. He is right to talk about rationing. My CCG has sta...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c994 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has one of the worst ma...; Emma Hardy | 666 c994 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend may be aware that, just today, the Education Committee published its report on chi...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c994 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. She has brought home the extent of the impact of staff shorta...; 666 c994 (Link to this contribution); Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c994 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to make a bit of progress. The Whips are looking slightly askance at me because of the...; Conor McGinn | 666 c994 (Link to this contribution)
Will my hon. Friend join me and, I am sure, all other Labour Members, in conveying our solidarity...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is what happens when privatisation and outsourcing go wr...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Vicky Ford | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to make some progress.
We need clarification from the Secretary of State on whet...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Vicky Ford | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
In a few moments.
The repair bill facing the NHS has now risen to £6.5 billion, more than h...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Vicky Ford | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way in a few moments.
Even if the Secretary of State replaces all the MRI scann...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Vicky Ford | 666 c995 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 cc995-6 (Link to this contribution)
In a few moments.
The Secretary of State will say that he has announced plans for six new h...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Vicky Ford | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Anneliese Dodds | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way in a few moments. Let me just finish this point.
When the Secretary of Stat...; Rosie Duffield | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend represents Canterbury, so I will give way to her.; Rosie Duffield | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that the Prime Minister’s recent false promise of a brand-new hospital ...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister promised that new hospital at the Tory party conference, only for the Departme...; Andrew Griffiths | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
In a few moments.
The Tory candidate for Canterbury, one Anna Firth, helpfully explained th...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c996 (Link to this contribution)
On the subject of £450 million investments, I wonder whether we could have a moment of cross-part...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 cc996-7 (Link to this contribution)
Of course I welcome that £450 million. [Interruption.] It just shows what an effective Member of ...; Vicky Ford | 666 c997 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c997 (Link to this contribution)
Let me deal with this point first.
The people of Leicester can see what is happening. Altho...; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 666 c997 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Remember that we were all going to try to be polite. The hon. Gentleman is talking about h...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c997 (Link to this contribution)
It loses elective orthopaedics, loses urology, loses brain injury and neurological services, lose...; David Tredinnick | 666 c997 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c997 (Link to this contribution)
Let me just finish this point and then I will bring in the hon. Gentleman. [Interruption.] He is ...; David Tredinnick | 666 c997 (Link to this contribution)
I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who is a Leicester Member, but I have to say that I am ...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c998 (Link to this contribution)
Well, the General is essentially being downgraded and I want a sustainable future for Leicester.<...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c998 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c998 (Link to this contribution)
This will be the last intervention I take because I have to get to the end of my speech, but let ...; Neil O'Brien | 666 c998 (Link to this contribution)
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman being generous with his time. My family used maternity services a...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c998 (Link to this contribution)
There we go, but the only way the Leicester General has a sustainable future in their own plans—t...; 666 c998 (Link to this contribution); Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c998 (Link to this contribution)
I need to move on because I think the House is getting slightly tired of our focusing on our cons...; Matt Hancock | 666 c998 (Link to this contribution)
Yes they do.; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 cc998-9 (Link to this contribution)
No they don’t; none of the hospitals the right hon. Gentleman announced at the Tory party confere...; Debbie Abrahams | 666 c999 (Link to this contribution)
I had the privilege of sitting on both Committees that considered the Health and Social Care Bill...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c999 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely.; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 666 c999 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Before the hon. Gentleman answers the intervention, he has been very generous in taking in...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 cc999-1000 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you for your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker. You are absolutely right. I will not take any ...; 666 c1000 (Link to this contribution); Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c1000 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to finish.
Any Government seeking to undo that privatisation in a trade deal is ...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1000 (Link to this contribution)
I rise in support of the Queen’s Speech, which has more action on health than any Queen’s Speech ...; Greg Knight | 666 c1000 (Link to this contribution)
When trying to assess what Labour might do if in government should we not look at the words of Ny...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1000 (Link to this contribution)
There is no doubt that when looking at the facts of the delivery of the NHS in Wales we see what ...; Tonia Antoniazzi | 666 c1001 (Link to this contribution)
It is absolutely disgusting that the Secretary of State can stand there and say that about the NH...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1001 (Link to this contribution)
I did find it surprising that the hon. Member for Leicester South did not mention the £33.9 billi...; Greg Hands | 666 c1001 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Secretary of State for giving way, and I also thank him for his announcement earlier ...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1001 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I can give that confirmation. I have seen some reports from the local Labour party putting f...; Debbie Abrahams | 666 c1001 (Link to this contribution)
Does the Health Secretary not feel ashamed that we have the highest rate of child mortality in we...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1001 (Link to this contribution)
I have great regard for the campaigning that the hon. Lady does on many topics, but I am afraid t...; David Tredinnick | 666 c1001 (Link to this contribution)
May I just tell the Secretary of State what an amazing job he is doing for Leicestershire and how...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1002 (Link to this contribution)
I am absolutely delighted to work with my hon. Friend on that subject, and also on the capital in...; Eddie Hughes | 666 c1002 (Link to this contribution)
The Secretary of State will be aware of the successful campaign that I fought to secure £36 milli...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1002 (Link to this contribution)
It is thanks to my hon. Friend’s campaigning and bringing to light the importance of the upgrade ...; Andrew Griffiths | 666 c1002 (Link to this contribution)
The Secretary of State talks about rejoicing, and Opposition Members have talked about the hospit...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1002 (Link to this contribution)
I will tell the House exactly what happened. My hon. Friend invited me to Burton, and I looked at...; Alex Chalk | 666 c1002 (Link to this contribution)
Gloucestershire health managers, supported by around £50 million of public money, are in the proc...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I can. In the light of the extensive representations that my hon. Friend made regarding the ...; Barry Sheerman | 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution)
The Secretary of State might need some help when I tell him that I am quite thankful, because aft...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution)
I will absolutely look at that, and I think that the new hospital is going to be absolutely terri...; Ben Bradley | 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution)
While we are talking about positive hospital stories, I would like to raise with my right hon. Fr...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution)
Yes. There is no greater spokesman for Mansfield than my hon. Friend, and he is absolutely right ...; 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution); Matt Hancock | 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Telford (Lucy Allan), who has already intervened...; Lucy Allan | 666 c1003 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for giving way, and for coming to Telford to have a look at...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1004 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend has campaigned incredibly hard. As she knows, the local NHS brought forward the pl...; Mark Pritchard | 666 c1004 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for giving way. I get on very well with the shadow Secret...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1004 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is right that the local NHS came forward with its plans, but I want to ensure that...; Gareth Snell | 666 c1004 (Link to this contribution)
When the Secretary of State goes to Telford, I suggest that he speaks to Councillor Shaun Davies,...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1004 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman raises the problem across Staffordshire. We are trying to ensure that the NHS ...; Stephen Kerr | 666 c1004 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend was talking about spending on healthcare across the United Kingdom. Scotland...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1004 (Link to this contribution)
There speaks the voice of Scotland. As we have put record amounts of funding into the NHS in Engl...; Phillip Lee | 666 c1005 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Secretary of State help me by pointing me towards an online resource that provides the e...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1005 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point that capital investment needs to be strategic, and th...; Steve Brine | 666 c1005 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Secretary of State for his vote of confidence in the NHS in Winchester. He has always...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1005 (Link to this contribution)
I would love to. I pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman’s work not only on the prevention agenda and...; Anneliese Dodds | 666 c1005 (Link to this contribution)
On the subject of strategic capital investments, the Secretary of State will be well aware that s...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1006 (Link to this contribution)
That is a decision taken by the local NHS. The proposals that we are putting forward in law, for ...; Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | 666 c1006 (Link to this contribution)
Will my right hon. Friend give way on that point?; Matt Hancock | 666 c1006 (Link to this contribution)
Let me explain my argument and then I will give way. What is not currently publicly provided? Wha...; Philip Dunne | 666 c1006 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is making a powerful point. Does he agree that by insisting on public provis...; Matt Hancock | 666 cc1006-7 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend’s mind is so aligned with my own that that is the very next line in my speec...; Mike Penning | 666 c1007 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend knows full well what I am going to raise with him in my intervention, which ...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1007 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I entirely understand where my right hon. Friend is coming from, and he has been a tireless ...; Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | 666 c1007 (Link to this contribution)
On behalf of my constituents, may I give a warm welcome to my right hon. Friend’s announcement th...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1007 (Link to this contribution)
I am delighted to have been able to give that assurance and I thank my hon. Friend for the work h...; Jamie Stone | 666 c1007 (Link to this contribution)
This is further to the point made by the hon. Member for Stirling (Stephen Kerr). As this Chamber...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1007 (Link to this contribution)
We will absolutely do that. The hon. Gentleman rightly says that this provision is a devolved mat...; Mike Gapes | 666 c1008 (Link to this contribution)
I enjoy the knockabout that has been going on, but will the Secretary of State accept that the NH...; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 666 c1008 (Link to this contribution)
Order. If the Secretary of State answers the intervention, I will say to him what I said to the O...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1008 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I am trying to take as many interventions as is reasonable. I feel as though I have been sit...; Gareth Thomas | 666 c1008 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Matt Hancock | 666 cc1008-9 (Link to this contribution)
Hold on, I have not even answered the previous intervention. The truth is that the NHS has propos...; Tom Tugendhat | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
May I welcome the investment that my right hon. Friend is making in Kent, not just in hospitals, ...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about getting community beds closer to home. I wish to mention...; Barry Sheerman | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Secretary of State has made a serious allegation a...; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
Order. That is a point of information, not a point of order. I will make no comment on it.; Matt Hancock | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
I will debate the hon. Gentleman’s involvement in PFI, which hamstrung the hospitals, every day o...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
I am delighted that the Secretary of State has elevated me; I was a 25-year-old adviser in the Tr...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
In 2011, I was the MP for West Suffolk. I opposed PFI in opposition and I have opposed it ever si...; 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution); Matt Hancock | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
I will take two more interventions and then I must get through dealing with the rest of the Queen...; Vicky Ford | 666 c1009 (Link to this contribution)
Just in mid-Essex we have 300 new nurse recruits, new specialist services cutting waiting times, ...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1010 (Link to this contribution)
Yes. My hon. Friend is a brilliant advocate for her local community, and I visited the new medica...; Andrew Griffiths | 666 c1010 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Secretary of State for giving way, because he gives me the opportunity to deliver on ...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1010 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It was incredibly moving to meet, in my office downstairs her...; Geraint Davies | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Secretary of State has been talking now for nearly...; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
Order. That is not a point of order; it is a point of debate. I understand the hon. Gentleman’s f...; Geraint Davies | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
It is a point of order.; Baroness Laing of Elderslie | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
No, it is not a point of order if I say it is not a point of order.
I encourage the Secreta...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
Quite right. I am voting for you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
On the point made by the hon. Membe...; Geraint Davies | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Matt Hancock | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
I am not going to give way after that nonsense, but on his point, perhaps he was not here at the ...; Paul Masterton | 666 c1011 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend will be aware of a number of women throughout the country, including Elaine ...; Matt Hancock | 666 cc1011-2 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, that will absolutely be addressed. We also have a report by Baroness Cumberlege that will lo...; Margot James | 666 c1012 (Link to this contribution)
I commend my right hon. Friend for his work to improve patient safety. Will he also look into how...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1012 (Link to this contribution)
I very much agree with my hon. Friend. In many trusts, things have gone very well over the past f...; Jonathan Ashworth | 666 c1012 (Link to this contribution)
indicated assent.; Matt Hancock | 666 c1012 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman is saying yes, which I am grateful for. I am open-minded to changes and improv...; Bernard Jenkin | 666 c1012 (Link to this contribution)
I hope very much to address the Health Service Safety Investigations Bill in my remarks later, bu...; Matt Hancock | 666 cc1012-3 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is quite right. I was trying to shorten my speech, Madam Deputy Speaker, so I miss...; Tracey Crouch | 666 c1013 (Link to this contribution)
I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for giving way. I think that people across the House w...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1013 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I will look precisely into the matter that my hon. Friend raises, because care plans should ...; Mark Pritchard | 666 c1013 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to the Secretary of State for giving way again; he is being very generous. What con...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1013 (Link to this contribution)
This is another incredibly important point. I will be working with the new Minister for Defence P...; Baroness Keeley | 666 c1013 (Link to this contribution)
Before the Secretary of State leaves mental health, will he address this issue of the 2,300 autis...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1014 (Link to this contribution)
We are absolutely acting on the area that the hon. Lady quite rightly raises. The number of patie...; Baroness Berger | 666 c1014 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; John Bercow | 666 c1014 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Before the Secretary of State takes the intervention from the hon. Member for Liverpool, W...; Baroness Berger | 666 c1014 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Secretary of State for very kindly giving way, and I welcome the fact that he will be...; Matt Hancock | 666 c1014 (Link to this contribution)
I want to pay tribute to the work that Sir Simon has done in bringing this matter forward. We are...
Subjects: Cannabis Capital investment Hospitals Health services Licensing NHS Medical treatments Privatisation Staff Mental health services Migrant workers Waiting lists Standards Surgery Vacancies Trade agreements USA Accident and emergency departments Leicester
Legislation: Health and Social Care Act 2012; Health Service Safety Investigations Bill (HL) 2019-19
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

The National Health Service

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