To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 6 September 2021 to Question 38295 on Accident and Emergency Departments, whether integrated care boards' (ICB) core responsibilities will have been expanded to ensure that each ICB is responsible for everyone in its...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 6 September 2021 to Question 38295 on Accident and Emergency Departments, whether integrated care boards' (ICB) core responsibilities will have been expanded to ensure that each ICB is responsible for everyone in its...

Consideration of Lords message. Motion, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 29B in lieu. Agreed to on division (278 votes to 182). Motion, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 30B and 108B to the words restored to the Bill, but proposes Amendments (a) to (i) in lieu. Agreed to on question. That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 48B in lieu but proposes Amendment (a) in lieu of that Amendment. Agreed to on question. Motion, That this House insists on its disagreement to Lords Amendment 80, insists on its Amendments 80A to 80N in lieu and disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 80P and 80Q instead of the words left out of the Bill by Lords Amendment 80. Agreed to on division (282 votes to 183). Motion that a committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords agreed to. Reasons reported and agreed to.

Consideration of Lords message. Motion, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendment 29B in lieu. Agreed to on division (278 votes to 182). Motion, That this House disagrees with the Lords in their Amendments 30B and 108B to the words restored to the Bill, but proposes Amendments...

When I spoke on workforce issues on this Bill last time, I said I was prepared to support the Government’s position on the basis of what the Minister and the Secretary of State had said. The Whips do not need to worry too much, because that remains the case, but...

When I spoke on workforce issues on this Bill last time, I said I was prepared to support the Government’s position on the basis of what the Minister and the Secretary of State had said. The Whips do not need to worry too much, because that remains the case, but...

A number of us have been successfully lobbied by the Royal College of Nursing in our own constituencies, showing us the figures—a shortage of 250 nurses in our A&E at the hospital in Gloucester—and staff surveys showing that morale is not where it should be. Does he agree that those...

A number of us have been successfully lobbied by the Royal College of Nursing in our own constituencies, showing us the figures—a shortage of 250 nurses in our A&E at the hospital in Gloucester—and staff surveys showing that morale is not where it should be. Does he agree that those...

I agree that the Government need to continue to address that issue in the way I have described, through more extensive engagement to try to demonstrate some of what is happening.

That brings me to my second point—I will try to stick to the original time limit—which is that these issues...

I agree that the Government need to continue to address that issue in the way I have described, through more extensive engagement to try to demonstrate some of what is happening.

That brings me to my second point—I will try to stick to the original time limit—which is that these issues...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

Yes—it is the only intervention I will take, but I promised my hon. Friend.

Yes—it is the only intervention I will take, but I promised my hon. Friend.

When I visit the elective orthopaedics team at Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester later this week, I suspect that they will not tell me that the workforce is not one of the things on their worry list, so it is regrettable that the Government cannot accept amendment 29B. They...

When I visit the elective orthopaedics team at Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester later this week, I suspect that they will not tell me that the workforce is not one of the things on their worry list, so it is regrettable that the Government cannot accept amendment 29B. They...

I hope I can reassure my hon. Friend that I always reflect carefully not just on what he says and what my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt) says, but on what the other place, and other hon. and right hon. Members on either side...

I hope I can reassure my hon. Friend that I always reflect carefully not just on what he says and what my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt) says, but on what the other place, and other hon. and right hon. Members on either side...

Amendment 29B goes much further than the Bill’s current provisions on workforce reporting, which are

extremely weak. It would require the Government, at least once every three years, to lay a report before Parliament describing the system in place for assessing and meeting the workforce needs of health, social care,...

Amendment 29B goes much further than the Bill’s current provisions on workforce reporting, which are

extremely weak. It would require the Government, at least once every three years, to lay a report before Parliament describing the system in place for assessing and meeting the workforce needs of health, social care,...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

Very briefly, as I am conscious that we have limited time.

Very briefly, as I am conscious that we have limited time.

If the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt) were to pursue the matter, my party and I would be minded to support him. Although I understand from the figures in the press today that there are significant numbers of new nurses coming into the NHS, there is...

If the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt) were to pursue the matter, my party and I would be minded to support him. Although I understand from the figures in the press today that there are significant numbers of new nurses coming into the NHS, there is...

The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the work we are already doing, which I will address in a moment, and the number of nurses we have recruited. I believe we have now recruited 29,000 or so en route to our target of 50,000 more nurses by the end of...

The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the work we are already doing, which I will address in a moment, and the number of nurses we have recruited. I believe we have now recruited 29,000 or so en route to our target of 50,000 more nurses by the end of...

Will my hon. Friend give way?

Will my hon. Friend give way?

I will make a little progress, if I may—a few more paragraphs—as I am very conscious of allowing time for Back-Bench colleagues to speak.

Building on this work, we recently commissioned NHS England to develop a workforce strategy. We will set out the key conclusions of that work in due course....

I will make a little progress, if I may—a few more paragraphs—as I am very conscious of allowing time for Back-Bench colleagues to speak.

Building on this work, we recently commissioned NHS England to develop a workforce strategy. We will set out the key conclusions of that work in due course....

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. He will know of my interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on stroke, and he will be aware of the particular concern of the Stroke Association and others about the number of qualified therapists to provide the therapy people...

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. He will know of my interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on stroke, and he will be aware of the particular concern of the Stroke Association and others about the number of qualified therapists to provide the therapy people...

I reassure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that he wishes the whole health and care workforce landscape to be considered by Health Education England.

The growth in our workforce comes on the back of our record investment in the NHS,...

I reassure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it clear that he wishes the whole health and care workforce landscape to be considered by Health Education England.

The growth in our workforce comes on the back of our record investment in the NHS,...

I draw the House’s attention to my declaration in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a practising NHS doctor. I welcome the Government’s concessions on modern slavery and procurement and on the reconfiguration of NHS services. However, I remain concerned about two issues: the care cap and independence in...

I draw the House’s attention to my declaration in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as a practising NHS doctor. I welcome the Government’s concessions on modern slavery and procurement and on the reconfiguration of NHS services. However, I remain concerned about two issues: the care cap and independence in...