Preparations for Leaving the EU

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 8th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I must say to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster that my sense is that that statement will be very warmly welcomed across the House, but also by a great many people outside this place, whatever their view about Brexit. It is important that decorous language is used, and the right hon. Gentleman has just been an exponent of it.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Ind)]

I agree with my right hon. Friend. As someone who voted for a deal three times, I am pleased to hear that that is still the Government’s policy.

Many people will already have plans for travel beyond 31 October. Notwithstanding point 4 on page 41 of the document, and the answers that he gave my right hon. Friends the Members for Basingstoke (Mrs Miller) and for North Thanet (Sir Roger Gale), will the Minister say how many reciprocal healthcare deals have been signed, and how many memorandums of understanding are likely to be signed, before 31 October?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Thursday 5th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are grateful.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Ind)]

4. What recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Government Mandate for the NHS

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Thursday 25th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

I have said, as the hon. Gentleman has heard many times, that we are finalising that. Again, it is more important to get it right. On the long-term plan for workforce implementation, a draft plan is being produced and I expect that plan to be published in the very near future—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The shadow Secretary of State exceeded his time on his feet. He must not now chunter in borderline delinquent fashion from his seat.

[Mr Speaker]

No one is ever too old to behave in a delinquent fashion.

[Stephen Hammond]

There are all sorts of lines I could follow that with, Mr Speaker.

It is clear that it is this side of the House that is putting in the funding to make sure that the NHS can deliver for the patients, staff and families.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Hammond]

My hon. Friend and I have sometimes disagreed on certain things, but one thing we agree on is his advocacy for his constituents, and he is right that I have been to see for myself the issues in Kettering in terms of the current configuration of the accident and emergency department. He is right to press for that urgent care centre, and he knows that he has impressed the case on my mind.

[Mr Speaker]

Everybody in Kettering must be aware of the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone). It is beyond my vivid imagination to suppose that there is any resident of the area who is not aware of him.

[Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Change UK)]

The truth is that it is very difficult for the NHS to make plans without knowing what the Government’s plans are for social care. We know, following a response to a question in yesterday’s debate, that the Green Paper has actually been written. There is simply no excuse for the continued delay in its publication which would allow the House to scrutinise it and the NHS to be able to provide a truly integrated approach to health and social care. Just saying that it will be published soon is no longer acceptable. Will the Minister set out when we can expect to see this vital document, so that we can scrutinise the Government’s plans?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 26th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Health (Stephen Hammond)]

Health Education England is leading a national nursing associate expansion plan to train 7,500 apprentice associates in 2019, building on the 5,000 who were trained in 2018.

[Mr Speaker]

Will the Minister face the House, please? Andrew Lewer.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 19th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

I am sure the hon. Gentleman will want to recognise the latest UCAS data for this year’s application cycle, which shows that, compared to the same time last year, there has been a 4.5% increase in the number of applicants for undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses. This is a significant improvement. He will also want to recognise that the loans system provides an extra £1,000. [Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Mr Luke Graham, calm yourself. You aspire to statesmanship, and I wish to cultivate and hone that legitimate aspiration—calm, Zen, statesmanship!

[Derek Thomas (St Ives) (Con)]

On Friday, I was privileged to take part in the launch of the health and social care academy in Cornwall. Cornwall NHS and social care providers have come together to train local students, including mature students, within the local health and social care provision without student tuition fees so that they can secure a job in Cornwall. May I invite the Minister to come and see the work we are doing and welcome this local innovation that is helping to address the NHS workforce challenge?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 15th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Health (Stephen Hammond)]

Our policies have allowed the NHS to recruit over 13,400 more nurses into all wards since 2010. Additionally, we have increased the number of available nurse training places, offering new routes into the profession and encouraging those who have left nursing to return to practice, alongside retaining more of the staff that we have now.

With your permission, Mr Speaker, I was so enthusiastic about the number of extra staff in the national health service, I might have inadvertently misled my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Victoria Prentis): it is 500 obs and gynae doctors since 2010.

[Mr Speaker]

In calling the hon. Member for Lincoln, I congratulate her on her birthday.

[Karen Lee]

You are very kind, Mr Speaker. The latest Care Quality Commission report on Lincoln County Hospital found sufficient nursing staff on only four of the 28 days reviewed and a heavy reliance on agency staff. As people know, I was a cardiac nurse for 12 years, and I can tell the House that agency nurses are expensive and create extra work—often they cannot do IVs and they are not familiar with paperwork, so the regular nurses end up doing half their jobs for them. Will the Secretary of State explain to the House why the NHS long-term plan has no policy on effectively tackling understaffing and no mention of reinstating the nursing bursary, which enabled nurses like me to train?

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Hammond]

Departmental officials have worked alongside the council to engage with Shaw Healthcare to identify the causes and explore the solutions to minimise the number of empty beds under the PFI. Through improved contract management and regular meetings with Shaw, significant improvements are being made, and contract changes are under discussion to further improve performance. This aligns with the Department’s best practice centre for PFI contracts, as the Chancellor announced in the Budget—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I appreciate the natural courtesy of the Minister in looking in the direction of the person questioning him, but the House wants the benefit of his mellifluous tones, so he should face the House. We are grateful to him.

[Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)]

T2. The closure of ward 6 at Bishop Auckland Hospital will mean the loss of 24 beds, which is why 14,000 people have signed a petition to keep it. Will the Minister now step in to ensure that we keep ward 6?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 27th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

The hon. Gentleman will know that the Government are committed to having more nurses and more staff in training, that we are putting in place extra measures to ensure that specialities are supported through that training process and that the extra £20 billion in the long-term plan will ensure that there are the staff and nurses needed to fill those vacancies.

[Mr Speaker]

We are running over time, so very briefly, please, Dr Philippa Whitford.

[Dr Philippa Whitford (Central Ayrshire) (SNP)]

Last week, the Secretary of State claimed that the number of GPs in England had increased by more than 1,000 from June to September, when the data actually showed a drop of 10 full-time equivalent doctors. In 2015, his predecessor promised an extra 5,000 GPs by 2020, but so far there are 1,000 fewer, so how does the Secretary of State plan to meet that target in just the next year?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Wednesday 10th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

As always, I am determined to find plenty of time for Back Benchers.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

Q6. I know that my right hon. Friend recognises how important it is for every child to have the opportunity of the best start in life. For the past three years, I have been campaigning to ensure that summer-born and premature children have that opportunity. The Department for Education’s recent report contains some statistical oddities and progress seems to have stalled. Would my right hon. Friend agree to meet me and parents to discuss this matter?

Trade Bill

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

3rd reading: House of Commons & Report stage: House of Commons
Tuesday 17th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We must hear the hon. Member for Wimbledon.

[Stephen Hammond]

Very few people ever say that, Mr Speaker.

It is a generous offer from the Front Bench, and one that I am tempted to accept, but I would say to the Minister: let’s do this the other way around. I will make him a generous offer. Why does he not accept new clause 18 today and then amend it in the Lords? [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!] I will tell the House why. Subsection (2) of my new clause is entirely in line with the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, which is now part of our law in this country, the House having passed it. All it says is that it should be the objective, after 21 January, which date is in clause 13(10) and (11).

Had I used any other word than “union”, the Front Bench would have accepted it. Frankly, I do not see the problem. Yesterday, we took several amendments that we were told did not undermine the Bill, and this does not undermine the Bill either. It keeps the plan on the road. I say to my Front Bench in all good faith: why not do it this way round? Accept new clause 18 now and I will work with them to find something in the Lords that they find acceptable.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 13th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

12. What steps he is taking to support growth in the small business sector.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Minister.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Andrew Griffiths)]

Apologies, Mr Speaker. I was congratulating myself too much!

The Government-owned British Business Bank provides £4 billion to support more than 60,000 UK small and medium-sized enterprises. We plan to unlock more than £20 billion of investment in innovative and high-potential businesses, including a new £2.5 billion investment fund with the British Business Bank. The Small Business Commissioner helps with payment issues, dispute resolution, and the sourcing of advice throughout the UK. Through the industrial strategy, we are continuing to invest in 38 growth hubs across England, as well as the business support helpline.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 12th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

What an enticing prospect for the hon. Member for Monmouth.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to support growth in the small business sector.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Monday 20th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

13. What recent steps she has taken to reduce the level of knife crime.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Minister.

Government Policy on the Proceedings of the House

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 10th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Mr Stephen Hammond.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

I beg the hon. Gentleman’s pardon, but I think the Leader of the House was intending to come in next. Am I right?

EU Exit Negotiations

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Tuesday 5th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. May I just gently point out to the House that colleagues who beetled into the Chamber after the statement started should not now be standing and expecting to be called? To put it mildly, that is bad form, and I would have thought that the person guilty of it would know it and desist.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

May I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement, and for the opportunity he gave Members of this House to spend many pleasurable hours during the recess reading position papers? The position paper on customs largely fails to mention financial services in any way. Given that the sector is our biggest tax raiser and represents 45% of our exports, will my right hon. Friend confirm to the House the Government’s ambitions for customs arrangements in financial services? Have they yet been raised in the negotiations, and does he intend to publish a position paper on those arrangements?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Thursday 10th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con)]

May I, on my birthday, reflect that the passage of time and progress are not always the same thing? Nothing will ever equal the excitement of a child at King’s Cross station taking the night sleeper steam train to Inverness and the highlands, and waking up at Aviemore to have kippers in the restaurant car. That is one of the many joys, like all-night sittings, that younger Members will never enjoy.

[Mr Speaker]

We are always pleased to be informed of the source of the right hon. Gentleman’s excitements, whether current or historic.

[Stephen Hammond]

May I wish my right hon. Friend—and my sister—a happy birthday?

I think progress will be appreciated by all younger Members. The rolling stock will ensure that they get a good night’s sleep as they are whisked swiftly to Scotland to enjoy the many benefits of that country, which must of course stay in the Union with the rest of this country.

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[Stephen Hammond]

Let me give my hon. Friend two pieces of good news. First, I know he will have read the consultation document from cover to cover, so he will have noted paragraph 7.7, which states that the

“bidders will be required to include plans, either in their core proposition or as an option, which would enable the withdrawal of all Pacer units from Northern services.”

I obviously recognise the campaign of the two newspapers he mentioned, and I am aware of the campaign he has rightly put forward on behalf of his constituents. I would say to my hon. Friend, as I have said to those newspapers, which faithfully reported my words, that this is a consultation and no decision has yet been made.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Jack Dromey. Not here.

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

8. What the estimated cost-benefit ratio is for the High Speed 2 Wigan spur.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Hammond]

My hon. Friend has rightly consistently raised this matter on behalf of his constituents. He will recognise that the level of overall satisfaction with South West Trains in a recent survey was at about the sector average, but I recognise, as he does, that overcrowding on South West Trains in the peak hours is a well-known issue and it affects the perception of value for money. My Department is working closely with South West Trains to address that.

[Mr Speaker]

Roberta Blackman-Woods. Not here. I call Grahame M. Morris.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Thursday 20th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)]

It will be not just mountain rescue but cave rescue organisations in Grassington and Clapham in my constituency that benefit. The Transport Secretary has been on his bike in Skipton and Ripon. Will he now commit to coming down a cave with me in the near future?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman poses a very serious challenge to even the most vivid imagination in the House.

[Stephen Hammond]

I really wonder whether I can answer the question better than Mr Speaker. I am loth to commit my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, but between us I am sure we will find someone who can join my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Thursday 19th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Stephen Hammond)]

The Government have committed funding to electrify more than 880—

[Mr Speaker]

I believe that the hon. Gentleman was grouping this question.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Thursday 18th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

My hon. Friend is, as ever, generous in his remarks of welcome. His invitation is equally generous, and I do not think I can refuse it.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mr Graham Evans. Not here.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and John Bercow

Monday 20th February 2012 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

I thank my right hon. Friend for the scale of support that he has announced. I recently visited the regional fire control centre that is opening in my constituency, which will provide emergency fire control at the Olympics. Will my right hon. Friend offer some insight to the House about who might be in overall command of an emergency or of security, and what procedures he is putting in place to ensure that both the civil and military authorities concerned with the Olympics security will work together?

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the Secretary of State, who had intended to group Question 5 with Question 11. He did not, so I do so on his behalf. I know he will be grateful.