Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Net Zero

Tuesday 19 July 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is committed to supporting the NHS to achieve net zero by 2040 for direct emissions
  • The NHS is investing 280 million through the public sector decarbonisation scheme
  • Minister assured that efforts to achieve a net zero NHS will not impact patient waiting lists for operations

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
NHS Climate
Context

The NHS plays a significant role in national net zero initiatives, but there are concerns about specific structural issues affecting hospitals like aerated concrete.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help the NHS achieve net zero. The NHS plays a key role in our national attempts to achieve net zero. I was therefore delighted to see the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust submit its plans for a new Airedale Hospital in my constituency. Those plans of course deal with the severe structural risk associated with aerated concrete, but they are also designed to create Europe's first ever carbon neutral hospital.

Answer from Maria Caulfield

We are committed to supporting the NHS to achieve net zero by 2040 for direct emissions, with the Government already investing £280 million through the public sector decarbonisation scheme to support that ambition. I thank my hon. Friend, who campaigns hard on this issue for Airedale Hospital. I absolutely understand the urgency around aerated concrete given the effect it is having, and of course I agree that the NHS has a vital role in supporting net zero. He will understand that I cannot commit to any one application. We are reviewing all applications and we aim to make a final decision later this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment on the specific Airedale Hospital plan without direct confirmation

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Q2 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
NHS Climate
Context

The Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has submitted plans for a new carbon-neutral Airedale Hospital in the constituency, aimed at resolving structural risks associated with aerated concrete.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that these are extremely exciting plans and that they are another reason why we should try to achieve a new Airedale Hospital in my constituency?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I thank my hon. Friend, who campaigns hard on this issue for Airedale Hospital. I absolutely understand the urgency around aerated concrete given the effect it is having, and of course I agree that the NHS has a vital role in supporting net zero. He will understand that I cannot commit to any one application. We are reviewing all applications and we aim to make a final decision later this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment on specific Airedale Hospital plan without direct confirmation

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS Climate
Context

There are concerns that the money allocated for NHS net zero initiatives may impact patients on long waitlists, particularly those needing urgent cataract operations.

Question

Can the Minister assure me, and the House, that the money used for the purpose of achieving a net zero NHS will have no impact on, for instance, those who are on waiting lists for cataract operations, who cannot even see the environment because they have been waiting for their operations for so many years? Net zero is very important, but what is more important is getting those operations done.

Answer from Maria Caulfield

I think we can do both. We have already reduced emissions in the NHS by 30%, and there are a number of ways in which we can reduce them further, from changes in procurement—the NHS will no longer purchase from suppliers that are not aligned with net zero ambitions—to the delivery of estate change.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Assurance on impact on waiting lists without specific commitment

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