Speeches by Streeting.

“You are leading me towards minimum unit pricing.”

“There are two things. Around 20,500 maternity staff have completed the e-learning module to date on cultural competency training. Work is under way to draft a new statutory and mandatory training competency framework for all NHS staff that will replace the core skills training framework. That will go live in April 2026…”

“That is a good challenge. The problem with alcohol is excess generally in terms of tackling things like obesity, and in terms of good health, whether liver health or otherwise. We have a particular challenge with problem drinking and people who drink to the point of dependency or addiction. We should draw a distinction…”

“I do not doubt the hon. Member’s sincerity and integrity on this issue, but I say to her respectfully that when she talks about barriers to entry, those “barriers” are safety and clinical oversight, as well as parental consent and the assent of the young person. I do not believe that those are barriers; I believe that …”

“I think that that is a fair challenge. We should come back to you on that in more detail. We will go away and take up the challenge.”

“My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Regardless of whether people are receiving this medication or not, we need to ensure that they receive the right therapeutic support to enable them to have healthy, happy childhoods and to understand themselves, the world they live in and how they relate to it in a way that does not …”

“Is local government the right place for this sort of public health work? So far, the answer has been yes. It is a finely balanced argument, and there are some decent arguments for taking some of those services back into the NHS. I know that is where you are pushing us—”

“That is a very good suggestion, and I will take that away.”

“May I thank the hon. Member for the way in which he put his question? It is so important to emphasise that right across this House, there are many people who oppose this trial, but who do want to see trans people well supported and protected and to respect their identities. That is important for everyone to bear in min…”

“I think that at the heart of your question, Becky, you are asking—”

“I assure the hon. Member that as part of this study, and as part of the roll-out of services across the country, we are focusing on the therapeutic support that she describes. We are implementing the Cass review, which recommended this particular trial for this particular purpose, and we will follow the evidence. Of co…”

“First, while we would never commit to something before seeing it, it is always my presumption in favour of implementing recommendations from reviews that we commission from expert people and teams. Otherwise, if you start with an assumption that you are not going to, then there is no point having the review in the firs…”

“There have been a few things so far: first, to appreciate and respect through actions, not just words, the role that the voluntary sector plays in the provision of sexual health services. In my early weeks and months in office, that meant, for example, making sure that when we contract, we recognise the actual cost pro…”

“My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Given that I work for a former Crown prosecutor, I could not possibly disagree with her on evidence.”

“In terms of the public health grant, we have been protecting the public health grant and increasing it to recognise the invaluable work that local authorities do. On the prevention side, we have been pulling a whole range of levers at the centre of government, from changes to the law and regulation, whether that is get…”

“Yes, in a few ways. First, we have worked hard, particularly as a ministerial team, but also with the new leadership on the official side in the civil service in the Department and in the NHS executive, to improve and build on the relationships we have with local authorities and local government—particularly directors …”

“No, that is not the expectation I am setting. I definitely do not want the review team to think, “Oh great, we can kick back,” but to be fair, the team behind this—not just our formal reviewers but the team of officials sitting behind this—are really keen to get stuck in, because we recognise just how widespread public…”

“Yes. We are not interested in cutting frontline services to fund the US pharma deal, which I have to say, by the way, is a deal that also delivered a 0% tariff for pharma exports for three years, and I think has achieved a really good outcome, given the pressures and constraints that the negotiating team were operating…”

“The Department has budgets for a wide range of things, including contingencies. We have also been funded to a degree on VPAG as well. I am not trying to be difficult in answering your question, but there is such a wide range of variables to what the number will be, and when that number and the highest plausible number …”

“That is a very good point. Part of the conversation we have been having with the Agenda for Change unions has been around pay structure reform. Nicola Ranger at the Royal College of Nursing, in particular, has been banging the drum really hard on the issue of the professional status of nursing, recognising the enormous…”