Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Service Reform

Thursday 10 July 2025 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Irene Campbell asked the Minister about steps being taken to reform public services.
  • The Minister highlighted reforms including the Best Start strategy and new neighbourhood health centres.
  • Irene Campbell inquired why waiting lists in Scotland are rising despite increased funding, contrasting with falling waiting lists in England.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Irene Campbell Lab North Ayrshire and Arran
NHS Social Care Local Government
Context

The MP highlighted the ongoing issues with fragmented and underfunded public services, affecting both residents and frontline workers.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reform public services. From our Best Start strategy to new neighbourhood health centres, we are reforming public services, so that money is invested in prevention, services are designed with and for local communities, and people always come first.

Answer from Georgia Gould (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office)

For too long, residents and frontline workers have had to navigate fragmented and underfunded services, and have had to arm up for battle when using public services. From our Best Start strategy to new neighbourhood health centres, we are reforming public services, so that money is invested in prevention, services are designed with and for local communities, and people always come first.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about specific steps being taken by Cabinet colleagues but the answer did not provide details on these actions or commitments from them.

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Q2 Irene Campbell Lab North Ayrshire and Arran
NHS
Context

The MP noted the disparity between falling waiting lists in England due to significant NHS investment, and rising waiting lists in Scotland despite record funding.

Question

Does the Minister agree that, while waiting lists in England are falling thanks to billions of pounds of investment into our national health service, it is an absolute disgrace that, despite record levels of money being provided to the Scottish Government, waiting lists in Scotland continue to rise?

Answer from Georgia Gould (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office)

As my hon. Friend has set out, since Labour came to power, we have seen waiting lists continue to fall, with our 2 million new appointments, but the Scottish people have not seen the same benefits. Luckily, though, they do not need to wait long to vote for a Labour Government with a plan to change that.

Not addressed: The Minister did not address why waiting lists in Scotland continue to rise despite record funding and instead shifted focus to upcoming elections.

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