Context
The Chancellor’s autumn Budget delivered a £50 billion devolution settlement for the Scottish Government, but there are concerns about the SNP's handling of NHS waiting lists. This affects cross-border healthcare users in North Northumberland.
Question
What recent discussions has the Minister had with the Scottish Government on the impact of the Barnett formula on levels of funding for local authorities? The largest ever devolution settlement—£50 billion—is great news for Scotland and its local authorities, but under the SNP there are 840,000 cases on NHS waiting lists. This affects people in my constituency in North Northumberland, many of whom use cross-border healthcare and dental services, so does the Minister agree that the SNP needs to sort itself out and start delivering change to the NHS, as Labour is doing in England?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)
I could not agree more. In England, waiting lists have fallen since Labour came to office less than a year ago, while in Scotland they continue to rise, and we now see nearly one in six Scots waiting for treatment. John Swinney has, in total desperation, announced that the SNP Government’s fifth NHS recovery plan in less than four years, but the reality is that patients, staff and we all know that Scotland desperately needs a new direction.
Not addressed: The impact of the Barnett formula on local authority funding levels was not directly addressed.
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