Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Blake Stephenson and Stephen Kinnock

Tuesday 17th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Kinnock]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question and her relentless campaigning on this issue. She is right that the 700,000 urgent dental appointments are a first step, and we are looking to embed that so that it goes forward every year of this Parliament. The broader issue is around contract reform. There is no perfect contract system—the current one clearly is not working—and we are looking at options around sessional payments, capitation, and getting a contract that works and brings dentists back into the NHS.

[Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)]

The Secretary of State will know that my local ICB in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes is set to merge with Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The new ICB will cover a population of about 3 million people. Given the difficulties we have had securing a GP surgery in Wixams, will the Secretary of State set out how supersizing that quango will help rural mid-Beds to get the local healthcare it needs?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Blake Stephenson and Stephen Kinnock

Tuesday 6th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Kinnock]

ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of these services, which are clearly extremely important, and the early intervention side of eye care is particularly important. I would be more than happy to look into that issue with the hon. Lady’s ICB if she wrote to me and made further representations.

[Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)]

5. Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the interaction between mayors and integrated care boards, in the context of the English devolution White Paper.