Speeches by Streeting.

“In the way that the Government normally do, we will certainly do an impact assessment of changes, and we will be looking at impact through a range of lenses.”

“It is disruptive, certainly. Is it necessarily a distraction? No. We have to remember that the reorganisation of two entities, the Department and NHS England, which have just under 20,000 people working there, is in the context of a system where more than 1 million people work. On the day we announced the abolition of …”

“I will say two things in response to that. One of the interesting things in the aftermath of the announcement about NHS England, aside from one or two people—my favourite one was the anecdote of someone who was in A&E sat next to someone who turned to them and said, “Enjoy this while it lasts, because Wes Streeting is …”

“Proceed carefully, even if you are acting radically. We came into office with a whole set of things we wanted to do and where we have hit the ground running, and we are beginning to see some of the fruits of that with falling waiting lists, increasing GP numbers and the impact of the decisions that the Chancellor made …”

“I should also mention I am a member of UNION, GMB and Community.”

“I will say a few things on this front. This is why we do not take these decisions lightly; I am very conscious that there are a number of people now who are anxious about their jobs and their futures. I am genuinely sorry about that, because I do not want people to have to worry. We would not be doing this unless we ge…”

“We are reviewing the workforce plan in the context of not only the 10-year plan but, frankly, the blindingly obvious problems that we have in the NHS today in terms of workforce planning. Some of the complaints that we have heard from resident doctors in particular about their future career prospects, the lack of speci…”

“Absolutely. I had a deputation of the Leeds mafia to see me, or ambush me, here in Parliament only recently. That was a delegation of MPs from the city and the region but also from the NHS Trust and the city council. As you would expect, Tracy Brabin has been banging the drum very loudly for her region and its science …”

“I will say two things about functions and skills specifically, and then about Leeds. First, we are still in the foothills of one of the most exciting revolutions taking place in the world, which is the revolution in life sciences and medical technology, as the Prime Minister announced this week with the establishment o…”

“First, I am left in no doubt by the Prime Minister and the public that, regardless of the reform agenda we are pursuing to deliver better outcomes for patients and better value for taxpayers, that cannot be an excuse for not delivering consistent year-on-year improvements in NHS services on the manifesto we stood on at…”

“No. I think there still is a national role on specialised commissioning, but again you have to get the balance right. This is something we are considering very carefully in the context of the 10-year plan, because we want to make sure, in terms of how we set the system up, that we are taking the right decisions in the …”

“I rely all the time on good clinical advice because there are occasions where the Secretary of State has in statute powers to intervene or powers to take decisions, and there are Bills going through Parliament presently that propose to give the Secretary of State more powers in this respect. It is important that Secret…”

“We already have clinical leadership across the NHS, quite rightly, in system leadership and provider leadership. I think we will always want to make sure that there is good national clinical leadership as well. I have one of those national clinical leaders sat to my left. There are many others who will be housed in the…”

“I definitely want to see the number of ALBs reduce during my time as Secretary of State and, therefore, there is a very high bar for someone to persuade me that a new ALB is required.”

“Yes. We are looking at this strategically but, as I say, I am conscious that we are doing something quite big now and I do not want to bite off more than we can chew.”

“Yes, you have heard what the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster have said about the number of arm’s length bodies. We are committed to reducing them overall as a Government. I am certainly committed to reducing the number of arm’s length bodies attached to my Department during my tenure as Secr…”

“Yes.”

“If you had asked me when I was appointed Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary a few years ago, “What are your thoughts on where social care should sit? Should it be folded into the NHS and have a national health and care service? Should it remain primarily with local government?” I think I would have said I was open…”

“I am doing my best to put you off hanging any more things on this Bill, and I am worried I am already failing.”

“There are certainly lots of specific duties of NHS England that would need to be dealt with through primary legislation: commissioning services, oversight of ICBs, oversight of trusts and foundation trusts, provider licences, digital and technology products and services, the data that supports the health system, planni…”