Public Services 2025-01-15
2025-01-15
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Education Minister's decision last week to reject bids by Bangor academy and Rathmore primary to become integrated schools, which had majority parental support.
Why is the Minister disappointed at the Northern Ireland Education Minister’s decision last week to reject the bids by Bangor academy and Rathmore primary to become integrated schools, which had the support of a majority of parents at both schools?
Yes, I do. Integrated education is a devolved matter for the Executive, but this Government are unapologetically supportive of integrated education. I have spoken to the headteachers of Bangor academy and Rathmore primary school this week, and they, as well as parents and pupils at the schools, are shocked by the decision. I hope that the Education Minister will work with them to resolve his concerns and listen to parents, who overwhelmingly want their children to benefit from integrated education.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
A £235 million budget for transformation that has not been spent to date.
What is the hold-up in spending the £235 million allocated by the Government for public service transformation in Northern Ireland?
I thank the hon. Member for raising the issue of the Public Service Transformation Board. As he says, the interim board has a £235 million budget for transformation. Several major projects—on health, special educational needs and justice—are now being sent to the Northern Ireland Minister of Finance for agreement, and I have pushed for the full board to be set up by the end of this financial year. I agree that it needs to move ahead and get those projects done.
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Assessment & feedback
The exact reasons or timeline for spending the money are not provided
Under Review
Working On
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Serious pressures facing the NHS, with some surgeries having more than six-year waiting times.
What other tangible support will the Government offer the Executive to reduce waiting times for people in Northern Ireland?
The hon. Member is correct to raise the issue of public services, especially health services. The winter pressures on hospital care and other areas have been shocking to see, and I am grateful to health workers for their work on the frontline at the moment. This week, I met the UK Government’s Health Minister to talk about how we can provide tangible support, and we have already done so. As the hon. Member says, funding is not the only answer; it is also about sharing best practice and expertise. This Government have committed to doing that through the Public Service Transformation Board, but there are other practical ways in which we can work together on the best ways to reform.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific actions or timeline for reducing waiting times were not detailed
Under Review
Considering This
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
A&E waiting times exceeding 12 hours, lack of beds leading to treatment in ambulances.
What conversations have the Secretary of State and Minister had with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure they have the resources needed for this immediate healthcare crisis?
I have met the Minister for Health, and I have been round and visited many of the healthcare provision services, all of which are feeling pressures at this time as a result of successive Executives not tackling reform and being absent along the way. That is why we set up the Public Service Transformation Board. The Executive face huge challenges, and this Government’s priority is to work with them. The funding is there, the Executive are committed, and they need to work together to deliver change urgently.
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Assessment & feedback
The adequacy of the 124% fiscal floor was not addressed specifically
Under Review
Considering This
Response accuracy