Wes Streeting
MP for Ilford North
Lab
7 May 2015 - Present
Questions Asked by This MP
Parliamentary questions and government responses.
Response classifications show how directly each question was answered.
Streeting thanked first responders and offered condolences, then pointed out existing government funding but argued it was insufficient and too slow. He asked the First Secretary of State to commit to providing the requested £75 million fund.
Context
A tragic incident involving the murder of two children due to domestic violence occurred in Westminster. The shadow Home Secretary has called for a £75 million ring-fenced fund.
Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)
Raab expressed condolences and acknowledged ongoing efforts, including £750 million in funding. He stated the government is looking to strengthen its response but did not commit to the specific £75 million fund requested.
Assessment
Commitment to providing a specific £75 million ring-fenced fund was not made.
Session: PMQs
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The Minister has seen at first hand the disruption and misery caused by the closure of the Broadmead Road bridge for safety reasons. He will also be aware from his visit that the cost of repairs dwarfs what the London borough of Redbridge is able to afford. What support can the Department for Transport provide to make sure that the bridge is reopened, while minimising disruption to the Central line during the repair works, so that we can get Redbridge moving again?
Context
The Broadmead Road bridge in Ilford has been closed for safety reasons, causing disruption. The cost of repairs is beyond what the London borough can afford.
Simon Lightwood
As my right hon. Friend mentioned, I have seen at first hand the impact that the bridge's closure is having on the local community. We announced a structures fund to support rundown bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels. Local authorities have until early August to apply for this investment, and the Department is already engaging with Redbridge council on its application.
Session: Topical Questions
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for writing to me before Christmas. I recognise the pressures that have been placed on NHS commissioners in recent years and the pressure that that has put on service configurations. I tend to support the devolution of decision making, with decisions about service reconfigurations taken closer to the communities they serve. I recognise also that commissioners do not always get it right, which is why engagement with Members of Parliament and other democratically elected representatives is important. Ministerial oversight is important, too. We will look seriously at the issues he raises and talk to NHS leaders, and I know he will be doing the same. This Government are determined to give NHS leaders the tools to do the job, so that we can get the right care in the right place at the right time, with a better experience for patients and better value for taxpayers.
Context
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has received a letter from the MP about planned ward closures and service degradation at Goole and district general hospital. The MP is concerned that these decisions will undermine efforts to reduce waiting lists.
Wes Streeting
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for writing to me before Christmas. I recognise the pressures that have been placed on NHS commissioners in recent years and the pressure that that has put on service configurations. I tend to support the devolution of decision making, with decisions about service reconfigurations taken closer to the communities they serve. I recognise also that commissioners do not always get it right, which is why engagement with Members of Parliament and other democratically elected representatives is important. Ministerial oversight is important, too. We will look seriously at the issues he raises and talk to NHS leaders, and I know he will be doing the same. This Government are determined to give NHS leaders the tools to do the job, so that we can get the right care in the right place at the right time, with a better experience for patients and better value for taxpayers.
Session: NHS Waiting Times
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I thank the right hon. Gentleman for writing to me before Christmas. I recognise the pressures that have been placed on NHS commissioners in recent years and the pressure that that has put on service configurations. I tend to support the devolution of decision making, with decisions about service reconfigurations taken closer to the communities they serve. I recognise also that commissioners do not always get it right, which is why engagement with Members of Parliament and other democratically elected representatives is important. Ministerial oversight is important, too. We will look seriously at the issues he raises and talk to NHS leaders, and I know he will be doing the same. This Government are determined to give NHS leaders the tools to do the job, so that we can get the right care in the right place at the right time, with a better experience for patients and better value for taxpayers.
Context
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has received a letter from the MP about planned ward closures and service degradation at Goole and district general hospital. The MP is concerned that these decisions will undermine efforts to reduce waiting lists.
Wes Streeting
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for writing to me before Christmas. I recognise the pressures that have been placed on NHS commissioners in recent years and the pressure that that has put on service configurations. I tend to support the devolution of decision making, with decisions about service reconfigurations taken closer to the communities they serve. I recognise also that commissioners do not always get it right, which is why engagement with Members of Parliament and other democratically elected representatives is important. Ministerial oversight is important, too. We will look seriously at the issues he raises and talk to NHS leaders, and I know he will be doing the same. This Government are determined to give NHS leaders the tools to do the job, so that we can get the right care in the right place at the right time, with a better experience for patients and better value for taxpayers.
Session: NHS Waiting Times
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The BDA says the dental recovery plan does not meet targets. Who should the public trust, and why should they trust the Health Secretary to deliver?
Context
The chief dental officer and British Dental Association criticise the announcement of additional dental appointments.
Victoria Atkins
Let us bring ourselves up to date. Labour's record in Wales is poor, while within a month of the new patient premium being switched on, hundreds of surgeries have opened to new patients.
Session: Topical Questions
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The Health Secretary promised an extra 2.5 million dental appointments this year, yet the dentistry Minister claims the figure is unreliable. Which one should we trust?
Context
The Health Secretary has promised extra dental appointments, but the dentistry Minister says the figure is unreliable.
Victoria Atkins
I am delighted to tell the hon Gentleman that we have modelled down ambitions, so the figure provided was higher than 2.5 million appointments due to focusing on delivering the dental recovery plan.
Session: Topical Questions
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Despite slogging their guts out, GPs are struggling because this Government have cut 2,000 GPs since 2015, making it even harder for patients to get an appointment. Given that, why has the Government decided that the NHS needs what the Institute for Fiscal Studies has described as the biggest funding cut since the 1970s?
Context
The MP criticizes the Conservative government for cutting GPs since 2015, leading to difficulties in accessing appointments. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has described upcoming NHS funding as the biggest cut since the 1970s.
Victoria Atkins
We have delivered on our manifesto commitment for 50 million more general practice appointments per year, with 363.8 million booked in the last 12 months. That compares with 312 million delivered in the 12 months to December 2019. About 62,000 more appointments were delivered per working day last December, excluding covid vaccinations.
Session: Primary Care
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As she speeds down the A23 back to Lewes, to defend her constituency against the Liberal Democrats, how on earth will she feel with all those embers of the Conservatives' 14-year record blowing in her face? The MP referenced criticisms from a Minister and asked about their impact.
Context
The MP highlighted criticisms from a Minister regarding the efficacy of Labour's policy and asked for clarification on how those criticisms would affect the Under-Secretary of State's position in her constituency election.
Victoria Atkins
People are almost twice as likely to be waiting for treatment under the Labour-run Welsh NHS, compared with 12.8% in England. Patients in Wales are, on average, waiting five weeks longer for NHS treatment than patients in England, and the number of patients escaping to seek treatment in England has increased by 40%.
Session: Topical Questions
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With a general election in the air and given the Secretary of State's principled opposition to funding the NHS by abolishing non-dom tax status, on a scale of one to 10—one being utterly shameless and 10 being highly embarrassed—how red-faced will she be when the Chancellor adopts Labour's policy tomorrow? The MP welcomed the statement but asked about the Secretary of State's stance.
Context
There was cross-party support for initiatives such as baby loss certificates, but the MP questioned how embarrassed the Secretary of State would be if the Chancellor adopted Labour's policy to abolish non-dom tax status.
Victoria Atkins
One of the joys of being at the Government Dispatch Box is that we get to have a knockabout on the Labour party's electioneering. The hon. Gentleman will know the Conservatives' proud record on funding our NHS since 2010.
Session: Topical Questions
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To listen to the Secretary of State, you would think it was all going so well, so let me give him a reality check. In Tamworth last year, only a third of patients said it was easy to get through to their doctor on the phone, one in three GP appointments were not conducted face to face and fewer than half of patients were offered a choice of appointment. The Government are not listening to the people of Tamworth. Perhaps the Secretary of State would like to explain to the people of Tamworth why, after 13 years of Conservative Government, this is the case, and better still, adopt Labour's plan to cut red tape, incentivise continuity of care and bring back the family doctor.
Context
The question is prompted by poor GP service ratings in Tamworth, highlighting a third of patients struggling to contact GPs, one-third of appointments not being face-to-face, and fewer than half offered appointment choice.
Steve Barclay
I am glad that the hon. Gentleman raised GPs in Tamworth. The GP lead for the Doctors Association said that his plans for general practice filled them with despair, and his proposal for GP nationalisation was mocked by the Nuffield Trust, one of the respected think-tanks. The reality is that this Government are investing in more tech in primary care, have recruited 31,000 additional roles into primary care and have over 2,000 more doctors working in primary care than before the pandemic.
Session: Access to Primary Care
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The MP noted that across the country, the No.1 reason children aged six to 10 are admitted to hospital is tooth decay and asked if the Secretary of State would adopt the modest measure proposed by Labour to introduce national supervised tooth brushing for small children as a low-cost, high-impact method to keep teeth clean.
Context
Across the country, the No.1 reason children aged six to 10 are admitted to hospital is tooth decay.
Steve Barclay
We are reforming the NHS workforce more fundamentally, looking at how we expand the roles that dental hygienists and dental therapists can perform. We are looking at how we can boost training, which is why we have made the commitment for more dentists in the long-term workforce plan, backed by £2.4 billion.
Session: Topical Questions
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Last year, in Mid Bedfordshire, 165 children had their teeth removed due to tooth decay and some 800 patients were forced into A&E for this reason. The MP noted that 100,000 people across the region cannot get access to an NHS dentist. He reiterated Labour's plan to provide 700,000 extra dentistry appointments every year.
Context
In Mid Bedfordshire, last year, 165 children had teeth removed due to tooth decay. Some 800 patients were forced into A&E for the same reason and 100,000 people across the region cannot get access to an NHS dentist.
Steve Barclay
Since 2010, we have had 6.5% more dentists, a quarter more appointments and, as we have just touched on, increasing flexibility in regulation and boosting overseas recruitment. It is striking that one area of the country that the shadow Secretary of State does not want to talk about is Wales, which has a record of what a Labour Government will deliver. Indeed, the Leader of the Opposition says that he wants Wales to be the “blueprint” for what the NHS would be in England. There, this week, we have seen a fiddling of the figures on health.
Session: Topical Questions
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What steps he is taking to help improve the effectiveness of brain cancer treatments.
Context
The MP is concerned about the effectiveness of current brain cancer treatments and requests steps taken to improve them.
Will Quince
We are working closely with research partners, and although I am pleased to say that more research is being funded, we want to see more research in brain cancer treatments. We continue to encourage more researchers to become involved in what remains a challenging scientific area, with a relatively small research community.
Session: Brain Cancer Treatments
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But the worst strikes in the history of the NHS are still to come. The impact of the junior doctors' strikes and the consultants' strikes will be devastating for patients. The Secretary of State has failed to stop these strikes for seven months. He has lost the confidence of nurses, radiologists, junior doctors and consultants, and he cannot even successfully negotiate with his Chancellor, so what is his plan to stop these strikes going ahead?
Context
The ongoing NHS strikes are the worst in its history, with junior doctors and consultants set to join. The Health Secretary has not stopped these strikes for seven months.
Steve Barclay
The hon. Gentleman's message is not even consistent with what he said at the weekend in the media: that he was not in a position to offer more money to the NHS, and that the shadow Chancellor had made that clear—in a vain attempt to demonstrate some sort of fiscal responsibility.
Session: Topical Questions
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Last week, the Health Secretary said that he was willing to offer doctors a higher pay rise. Last night, the Chancellor slapped him down, saying that any increased offer will have to be paid for by cuts. How can the Health Secretary negotiate an end to the NHS strikes when he cannot even negotiate with his own Chancellor?
Context
The announcement of a higher NHS pay rise by the Health Secretary has been met with resistance from the Chancellor, who insisted that any increased offer will have to be offset by cuts.
Steve Barclay
We have been clear throughout that Government decisions on the pay review bodies' recommendations are taken on a cross-Government basis. The agreement that we reached with the largest group of NHS staff, those on “Agenda for Change”, has demonstrated that we are willing to work constructively with trade union colleagues.
Session: Topical Questions
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I want to turn to the most recent reports about the NHS workforce plan, because apparently not only is that plan delayed, but we now read in the media that it is unfunded. Labour will pay for our workforce plan by abolishing the non-dom tax status. How will the Health Secretary fund his plan when it eventually arrives?
Context
The MP questions the delay to the NHS workforce plan and its unfunded status, and asks how it will be funded.
Steve Barclay
The hon. Gentleman is recycling this question almost as often as he recycles the non-dom funding. As I said at the last Health and Social Care Question Time, it is like the 1p on income tax that the Lib Dems used to promise, which was applied to every scheme going.
Session: Topical Questions
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First, I congratulate the Health Secretary on his recent write-up as the next Leader of the Opposition. According to the i newspaper, his supporters are calling him “Mr Consistent”. Is that because of the consistent rise in waiting lists since he became Health Secretary, the consistently longer waiting times that patients are facing, or the consistent delay to the NHS workforce plan?
Context
The MP congratulates the Health Secretary on his write-up as the next Leader of the Opposition and questions consistency regarding NHS waiting list growth, longer waiting times, and delay to the NHS workforce plan.
Steve Barclay
The point of consistency is that we gave a manifesto commitment to have 26,000 additional roles in primary care, and we have delivered that. We made a commitment to the largest ever hospital building programme, and we have announced over £20 billion of investment in it.
Session: Topical Questions
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What assessment has the Department made of antimicrobial resistance to superbugs originating in industrial farming?
Context
Assessment of superbug origin in industrial farming.
Maria Caulfield
The UK takes a 'one health' national approach to AMR and has seen reductions in veterinary antibiotic sales and antimicrobial resistance.
Session: Topical Questions
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Why will the Government not adopt Labour's plan to double the number of medical school places, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status, so that patients have the doctors they need?
Context
The MP mentioned significant GP appointment waiting times in various areas and questioned the government's plan to address this.
Will Quince
I recognise the pressures on the system, but Labour has spent the non-dom money 10 times over. We are taking real action on this issue: real-terms spending on general practice is up by more than a fifth since 2016; as I said, we are investing £1.5 billion to create an additional 50 million GP appointments; we have recruited more than 25,000 additional primary care staff; and there are 2,167 more doctors in general practice; and we have the highest number ever in training.
Session: NHS Appointments
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Following the excellent television campaign on bowel cancer, can we have a similar campaign to highlight the importance of pharmacists and ease pressure on GPs?
Context
MP requests similar campaign for pharmacists as bowel cancer awareness.
Steve Barclay
The Government is committed to enabling patients to get the right care from the right place at the right time, including through technology such as the NHS app.
Session: Topical Questions
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I was at Worcester University's medical school yesterday, where I was told directly by the vice-chancellor that that university can only recruit international students because the Government will not fund places for domestic students. The NHS has asked for medical school places to be doubled. Labour has a plan to double medical school places, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status. Why do the Government not swallow their pride and adopt Labour's plan in next week's Budget?
Context
There is concern about the reliance on international students for medical education and the need to double medical school places.
Steve Barclay
First, as I said a moment ago, we are funding a 25% increase in medical undergraduate places, and we have given a commitment to a workforce plan, as the Chancellor set out in the autumn statement. The question that the shadow Secretary of State should address is his party's opposition to international recruitment. We have more than 45,000 doctors who have been recruited internationally, yet the Leader of the Opposition says he wants to move away from international recruitment, which is an important source of additional doctors.
Session: Doctor Numbers
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I think patients know who to trust, and it is nurses, not the Secretary of State. The Government have still learned nothing: despite a 98% vote in favour of strikes, the Secretary of State was sent to meet junior doctors without a mandate from the Prime Minister to negotiate. What is the point of this Health Secretary if he is in office but not in charge?
Context
The lack of a mandate from the Prime Minister to negotiate with junior doctors.
Steve Barclay
I have come to the House literally from a meeting with the trade unions: I met the NHS Staff Council this morning. Once again, hon. Members on the Opposition Front Bench are writing their questions before they see what is actually happening.
Session: Topical Questions
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When nurses and paramedics voted to take strike action, the Secretary of State refused to negotiate and said that the pay review body's decision was final. He has now U-turned, but not before 144,000 operations and appointments were cancelled through his incompetence. Will he now apologise to patients for this avoidable disruption?
Context
The refusal to negotiate after nurses and paramedics voted for strike action.
Steve Barclay
What the hon. Gentleman omits to remind the House is that at the time the demand from trade unions was for a 19% consolidated pay rise, which is very different from the basis on which talks have been entered into. The point is that we are in discussions with trade union colleagues.
Session: Topical Questions
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How will the additional £100 million funding cut NHS waiting times and reverse the trend of closures?
Context
Lloyds has closed two branches in the constituency despite government investment.
Neil O'Brien
The investment allows pharmacies to provide more clinical services, supports pharmacies in areas with fewer branches through the access scheme, increasing the number of community pharmacists by 18% since 2017.
Session: Topical Questions
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Given the need to expand NHS training, will he adopt Labour's workforce plan instead of having no plan?
Context
Request for doubling medical school places, nursing and midwifery clinical training places, and district nurses qualifying.
Steve Barclay
The Secretary of State criticized the misrepresentation of government plans and noted that even BMA deputy chair contradicts Labour's claims.
Session: Topical Questions
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Is it true that the Health Secretary's plan is to wait for public sentiment to turn against striking nurses?
Context
A Government source claims that the Secretary of State's plan is to wait for public sentiment to turn against striking nurses.
Steve Barclay
First, it is a bit bizarre that, at departmental questions, the best the hon. Gentleman can manage is “a Government source”. Secondly, the revelation from that Government source is that this will affect “a lot of people”. I do not think that comes as any surprise. That is why we regret the action and are very open to having talks.
Session: Topical Questions
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Why is not the Health Secretary negotiating to prevent NHS strikes from going ahead?
Context
The chairman of the Conservative party claims that NHS strikes are exactly what Vladimir Putin wants, suggesting the Health Secretary should negotiate to prevent them.
Steve Barclay
I have seen the hon. Gentleman make that claim across the media a number of times. Just to reassure him, my door is open and I have been clear with the trade unions that I am available; I am available to them this afternoon or tomorrow.
Session: Topical Questions
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I can forgive the Secretary of State for mishearing the question, but what I find unbelievable is that it seems as if this is the first time he has heard about the Prime Minister's own proposed taskforce to deal with the Conservatives' NHS backlog. That is what the Prime Minister promised, and that is what I asked the Secretary of State about. This is obviously another case of the Conservatives over-promising and under-delivering. If the Secretary of State cannot stand by the Prime Minister's pledges, what about the views of the man next door? When we announced our policy to train a new generation of doctors and nurses, paid for by abolishing non-doms, it was welcomed by the Chancellor as—and I quote—“something I very much hope the government also adopts on the basis that smart governments always nick the best ideas of their opponents.” In the spirit of constructive opposition that the Secretary of State asks for, Labour has a plan to tackle the staffing crisis. The Conservatives do not. It is fully costed and paid for, so will he nick it?
Context
The MP criticized the Secretary of State's response on taskforce details and proposed a Labour policy for training doctors and nurses, funded by abolishing non-doms.
Steve Barclay
The hon. Gentleman skirts over the fact that it is this Government who have opened five new medical schools, who have significantly boosted medical undergraduate training, who are investing more in our NHS as per the long-term plan, who have invested a further £36 billion as part of our covid response, and who are investing in technology and the skills of the workforce as a whole. We are boosting the number of medical trainees and—I touched on this question earlier—we are also boosting the number of doctors in training to be GPs.
Session: Topical Questions
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I welcome the Secretary of State back and welcome his team, but I have had boxes of cereal with a longer shelf-life than Conservative Secretaries of State. As a consequence of the turnover and chaos, the truth is that the NHS is not prepared for this winter—it cannot even get allocated funds out of the door. Let us turn to the future. Over the summer, the Prime Minister promised to establish a “vaccines-style taskforce” to tackle the Conservatives' NHS backlog on “day one” and to have overall waiting list numbers falling by next year. May I ask the Secretary of State who is on that taskforce, how many times it has met and what its programme of work is?
Context
The MP questioned the Secretary of State's preparedness for winter and asked about a vaccines-style taskforce promised by the Prime Minister.
Steve Barclay
I am grateful that the hon. Gentleman raises the issue of vaccines; in fact, I raised it in Cabinet today. The UK is the first country in the world to have introduced bivalent vaccines targeted both at omicron and at the original strain of covid-19. We have now made the covid vaccine and the flu vaccine available to all over-50s.
Session: Topical Questions
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I cannot believe that the Government are still talking about 40 new hospitals with a straight face. Nobody believes that it is true. As for capital investment, we have the lowest in the OECD and we lag significantly behind. We have the longest waiting lists in NHS history and record waits for ambulances. People are finding it impossible to book a GP appointment. There are 400,000 delayed discharges each month because the social care support is not there. The Government are finally acknowledging that covid is still a challenge, and that the hot weather is a challenge, but they do not want to talk about their record, which is, I am afraid, at the heart of the challenge. Does the Secretary of State really believe that it is reasonable to expect NHS employers to meet the pay rise for NHS staff from existing budgets?
Context
The Government's capital investment is the lowest in the OECD, leading to long waiting lists, record ambulance waits, booking difficulties for GP appointments, and high delayed discharges.
Steve Barclay
We will respond shortly to the independent pay review body, which, as part of its recommendations, weighs up the pressures on the cost of living and the other factors within its remit. The Government are delivering more doctors, more nurses, more appointments and more treatments, investing in our estate and planning for the future. That includes investment in research and development, and in future technology through our life sciences. That not only delivered the vaccine that allowed us to lift the covid restrictions that the Opposition wanted to retain, but will unlock the technologies of the future.
Session: Topical Questions
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The British people are sick and tired of hearing Conservative Ministers, after 12 years in government, passing the buck to everyone else and failing to take responsibility. Let us look at another scandal that has happened on the Secretary of State's watch. It has now been weeks since he was warned about the negligence, the cover-up and the bribing of whistleblowers to stay silent about the scandals at the North East Ambulance Service. Since then, he has done precisely nothing to investigate the scandal. When will he address patient safety, get a grip and stop passing the buck? Or is this another case of the Government being, in the words of the Culture Secretary, found “wanting and inadequate”?
Context
The Secretary of State has been warned about the negligence, cover-up and bribing of whistleblowers at the North East Ambulance Service.
Sajid Javid
I told Members last week that I will review whether we can have an independent review of the North East Ambulance Service, and the NHS has agreed to an independent review. The hon. Gentleman stands up week after week and tries to claim he is on the side of patients and NHS workers, but we know he is actually on the side of those who are on strike—that is where his loyalties lie. Will he reflect on how many nurses will not be able to get to work and how many appointments will be unattended because of the transport strike? I know he wants to be the second coming of Tony Blair, but he is no more than a pound shop Ed Miliband.
Session: Topical Questions
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I associate myself with the Secretary of State's remarks as we remember the anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and support the families in their ongoing quest for justice. I also associate Opposition Members with your remarks, Mr Speaker, on the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands war. Last night's shocking BBC “Panorama” investigation into Operose Health revealed the extent of the crisis in GP surgeries, with patient referrals and test results left unread for up to six months, and with patients being seen by less qualified staff standing in for GPs without supervision. This is exactly what happens when private profit is placed above patient health and safety. Why is the Secretary of State asleep at the wheel instead of launching an investigation into this scandal?
Context
A BBC investigation revealed serious issues in GP surgeries, including patient referrals and test results unread for up to six months.
Sajid Javid
As I said earlier, the hon. Gentleman should reflect on the rule changes made by a previous Labour Government that allowed the management of many GP practices to change hands. When such serious allegations are made, it is right that local commissioners investigate them properly and independently. When it comes to GP access and capacity, I hope he will welcome that we are making a record investment, with over £0.5 billion of support during the pandemic, and recruiting GPs at a record rate.
Session: Topical Questions
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Is it not the case that after a decade of underinvestment in the NHS, a failure to fix social care and the absence of a plan even to address staffing challenges, we have a permanent crisis?
Context
More than 20,000 patients fit to leave hospital but cannot be discharged; more than 22,000 waiting over 12 hours in A&E; heart attack and stroke victims wait an hour for ambulances. The Government's failure to fix the social care crisis causes huge pressures on the NHS.
Sajid Javid
That is not the case at all. The NHS and social care face unprecedented pressure because of the pandemic; staff absences are higher than normal times but the NHS is providing support with record funding for both NHS and adult social care.
Session: Health and Care Integration
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We went into the pandemic with NHS waiting lists already at 4.5 million. We went into the pandemic with NHS staff shortages of 100,000. We went into the pandemic with social care staffing vacancies of 112,000. So it is not just the case that the Tories did not fix the roof while the sun was shining; they dismantled the roof, removed the floorboards and now they have no plan to fix it. Where is the Secretary of State's plan to fix the NHS crisis?
Context
The NHS entered the pandemic with long waiting lists, staff shortages in healthcare and social care.
Sajid Javid
Mr Speaker, you have been very generous to the hon. Gentleman: you gave him another try, but that was another failure to ask a question. Again, the hon. Gentleman is not asking about the serious issues, which again shows that he will play petty party politics and that Labour has no plan for the challenges this country faces.
Session: Topical Questions
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Why does the Health Secretary think he has any licence to lecture the British people on their moral duty to pay taxes when he spent so many years avoiding his own?
Context
The Health Secretary is criticised for his past avoidance of taxes while lecturing the public on their moral duty to pay.
Sajid Javid
I am very happy to answer if you will allow me, Mr Speaker. The hon. Gentleman could have asked me a question on anything to do with health and care—anything he wanted—but instead he chooses to talk about my personal affairs before public life. That was his choice. He could have asked me about the covid backlogs that he pretends he cares so much about.
Session: Topical Questions
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Is it true that the Health Secretary has not secured the funding he requested from the Treasury? If so, will these cuts impact patients?
Context
The Health Secretary asked for £5 billion but received nothing, potentially leading to cuts in social care and elective surgeries.
Sajid Javid
When it comes to funding our plan for living with covid, it is funded by the Department. The hon. Gentleman should not believe everything he reads in the press.
Session: Topical Questions
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Will the NHS now face cuts as a result of not receiving additional funding? The Times reported that the Health Secretary threatened potential delays and reductions if he did not get the requested funds. Is this true?
Context
The Health Secretary asked for £5 billion in funding but received nothing from the Treasury.
Sajid Javid
We must learn to live with covid and fund our plan through the Department's budget, which is our priority. The hon. Gentleman should not believe everything he reads in the press.
Session: Topical Questions
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I am going to raise it a third time, because it is very clear that breast cancer care is worse than care for other forms of cancer. The Secretary of State needs to account for that and tell us what he will do about it. On cancer more broadly, it is not good enough to return to the situation pre-pandemic, because as much as he wants to blame covid pressures for delays in cancer treatment, we went into the pandemic with waiting lists at 4.5 million, and with staff shortages of 100,000 in the NHS and of 112,000 in social care, which impacted on broader NHS performance. Where is the plan to fix the workforce challenge in the NHS? That is the biggest single challenge that will impact on his mission—the mission we all share—to improve cancer outcomes for everyone in the country.
Context
The increase in breast cancer care delays is worse compared to other forms of cancer, indicating a potential deprioritization.
Sajid Javid
The hon. Gentleman will know that survival rates from cancer were increasing before the pandemic, but as I think the whole House understands, the pandemic has had an impact on all other types of healthcare, including cancer.
Session: Topical Questions
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Keeping the Secretary of State on the subject of cancer, half of all patients with suspected breast cancer are not seen within the recommended two weeks. In two months, the number of patients who were not able to see a specialist in the target period has gone from 5,000 to 23,000—a far steeper increase than for all other forms of cancer—so I ask the Secretary of State: has breast cancer care been deprioritised?
Context
Delays in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have increased significantly during the pandemic.
Sajid Javid
Of course it has not been deprioritised. No cancer has been deprioritised. As the House has heard again today, we have seen an impact on healthcare across the country because of this terrible pandemic, including, sadly, on cancer care.
Session: Topical Questions
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Geoff Cosgrave was admitted with advanced kidney cancer in mid-November but due to thoracic ward closures due to staffing issues, he waited over two weeks before being admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary. Unfortunately by then his condition had worsened and he could not receive treatment, dying last week. The family wishes to thank NHS staff for their care and asks what the Government is doing to address the understaffing in the NHS and pressures from covid impacting cancer care.
Context
The question arises from the death of Geoff Cosgrave due to kidney cancer that had spread through his lymph nodes and lungs. Due to staffing shortages, he could not receive treatment for a blockage in his lungs until finally admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary but unfortunately his condition deteriorated.
Maria Caulfield
The NHS is focusing on recovering cancer services to pre-pandemic levels; an additional £2 billion of funding was made available and there were 44,000 more staff from October 2020. We are committed to getting back on track for pre-pandemic levels.
Session: Cancer Outcomes
View All Questions -->
Like other aspects of the Government's coronavirus response, DFE's handling of exams is disastrous. Schools face avoidable challenges because the department failed to plan ahead. Will the Government learn from past and current disasters and publish plans for next year?
Context
The Department for Education's handling of exams has been criticised as a disaster due to lack of planning, leading to challenges for schools.
Nick Gibb
Given education disruption, normal exams would not be fair. We consulted Ofqual on alternative arrangements in January with over 100,000 responses. This year's GCSE and A-level students will get grades based on teacher evidence. Robust quality assurance processes ensure fairness and consistency. We will monitor the position regarding 2022.
Session: End-of-Year Assessments 2021
View All Questions -->
Other Parliamentary Activity
Debates led and petitions presented.
Remote Learning And Support For Disadvantaged Pupils
02 November 2020
Responding: Nick Gibb
Main Concerns
['Mr. Wes Streeting is concerned about the challenges schools face in adapting to remote learning and ensuring that disadvantaged pupils are not left behind during the pandemic. He highlights issues such as the need for additional resources, protective equipment, and measures to ensure school safety and cleanliness. Mr. Streeting also mentions that existing government schemes and funding initiatives may not be adequately targeted towards students from less privileged backgrounds.']
Specific Asks
['Mr. Wes Streeting urges the Government to focus on providing better support to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and calls for a national strategy to ensure no pupil is left behind due to the pandemic.']
Ukraine and Russia
10 September 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Defence Investment Plan
30 June 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
30 June 2026
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Legacy of Jo Cox
11 June 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
I thank Jo’s family for their leadership and friendship, praising the tenacity and guts that have inspired others. I commend Kim Leadbeater for stepping into public life and continuing Jo Cox's legacy...
Health and Social Care Bill
01 June 2026
Bill Debate
Contributed to this debate
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray, moved the Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill. He emphasised the personal significance of the NHS in his life due to a ra...
Defence Readiness
20 May 2026
General Debate
Contributed to this debate
Resident Doctors: Industrial Action
26 March 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Meningitis Outbreak
17 March 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill 2026-01-27
27 January 2026
Ministerial Statement
Led by this MP
Budget Resolutions 2025-12-02
02 December 2025
Ministerial Statement
Contributed to this debate
Attendance
44.9%
44 of 98 votes
Aye Votes
14
14.3% of votes
No Votes
30
30.6% of votes
Abstentions
54
55.1% of votes
11 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Closure motion
Ayes: 293
Noes: 218
Passed
11 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Second Reading
Ayes: 270
Noes: 286
Failed
10 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Social Housing Bill [Lords]: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
Ayes: 77
Noes: 292
Failed
09 Sep 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Plant Health, Seeds, Seed Potatoes and Plant Propagating Material (Ame...
Ayes: 371
Noes: 100
Passed
08 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 140
Ayes: 79
Noes: 300
Failed
08 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 142
Ayes: 108
Noes: 357
Failed
08 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 143
Ayes: 106
Noes: 302
Failed
08 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Health Bill: Report Stage: Amendment 1
Ayes: 162
Noes: 297
Failed
07 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 6
Ayes: 77
Noes: 317
Failed
07 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Health Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 145
Ayes: 170
Noes: 316
Failed
04 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Motion to sit in private
Ayes: 1
Noes: 79
Failed
02 Sep 2026
VOTED NO
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 65
Ayes: 166
Noes: 346
Failed
02 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 67
Ayes: 105
Noes: 410
Failed
02 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Representation of the People Bill: Report Stage: New Clause 88
Ayes: 85
Noes: 427
Failed
02 Sep 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Representation of the People Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 411
Noes: 102
Passed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED AYE
Employment Tribunal (Extension of Time Limits) (Miscellaneous Amendments and...
Ayes: 322
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED AYE
Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) (Amendment...
Ayes: 318
Noes: 107
Passed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED NO
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 80
Noes: 281
Failed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED NO
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 4
Ayes: 173
Noes: 282
Failed
01 Jul 2026
VOTED NO
Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 5
Ayes: 177
Noes: 308
Failed
24 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2026
Ayes: 323
Noes: 160
Passed
24 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Carbon Budget Order 2026
Ayes: 332
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipp...
Ayes: 329
Noes: 94
Passed
24 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2026
Ayes: 330
Noes: 93
Passed
23 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Opposition day: Defence spending and readiness
Ayes: 108
Noes: 307
Failed
23 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
Opposition Day Motion: Defence spending and readiness - Prime Minister's Amen...
Ayes: 294
Noes: 110
Passed
23 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day: Puberty blockers
Ayes: 112
Noes: 283
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 4
Ayes: 164
Noes: 311
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 11
Ayes: 104
Noes: 391
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: New Clause 22
Ayes: 74
Noes: 323
Failed
22 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: Amendment 11
Ayes: 171
Noes: 322
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED AYE
National Security (State Threats) Bill: Allocation of Time motion
Ayes: 233
Noes: 94
Passed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 3
Ayes: 85
Noes: 317
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 8
Ayes: 143
Noes: 249
Failed
17 Jun 2026
VOTED NO
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: Amendment 13
Ayes: 135
Noes: 258
Failed
17 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
National Security (State Threats) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 144
Noes: 244
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 77
Noes: 255
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 151
Noes: 258
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Remainin...
Ayes: 162
Noes: 246
Failed
16 Jun 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Draft Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulatio...
Ayes: 262
Noes: 86
Passed
24 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Opposition Day: Protections for children from online harms
Ayes: 69
Noes: 279
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: Amendment 1
Ayes: 161
Noes: 272
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
Ayes: 156
Noes: 273
Failed
23 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 77
Noes: 280
Failed
23 Feb 2026
VOTED NO
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
Ayes: 73
Noes: 256
Failed
23 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
Ayes: 361
Noes: 84
Passed
11 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Marit...
Ayes: 362
Noes: 107
Passed
11 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Local Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27
Ayes: 277
Noes: 143
Passed
11 Feb 2026
DID NOT VOTE
Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2...
Ayes: 279
Noes: 90
Passed
04 Feb 2026
VOTED AYE
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
Ayes: 392
Noes: 116
Passed
1
PMQs Asked
58
Ministerial Questions Asked
107
House of Commons Debates Involved
1
Westminster Hall Debates Led
43
Statements / Bills
0
Petitions Presented
98
Voting Record
Activity Compared to Peers
How does this MP's parliamentary activity compare to the national average across 1457 MPs?
Prime Minister's Questions
-73% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
3.7
Ministerial Questions
+333% above average
This MP:
58
Average:
13.4
Westminster Hall Debates Led
-60% below average
This MP:
1
Average:
2.5
Commons Chamber Debates
+2102% above average
This MP:
107
Average:
4.9
Statements / Bills Proposed
+354% above average
This MP:
43
Average:
9.5
Petitions Presented
-100% below average
This MP:
0
Average:
2.5
Voting Attendance Rate (%)
-35% below average
This MP:
44.9
Average:
69.2
Important Context
- - Ministers answer questions rather than asking them, so have different activity patterns
- - Activity quantity doesn't measure quality or effectiveness of representation
- - Some MPs focus more on constituency work than parliamentary questions
- - Newly elected MPs will have less parliamentary history
About This Page
This page tracks Wes Streeting's parliamentary activity including questions asked, debates (Commons Chamber + Westminster Hall), statements/bills, and petitions presented.