Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the National
Audit Office’s report on sustainability and transformation in the NHS, said:

“The
NAO’s report confirms the Government’s flawed and wholly inadequate approach to
the sustainable, long term funding of the NHS. Ministers have failed to
increase per head spending in real terms each year, a key election promise, and
there are still no details of a long overdue pay rise for NHS staff.

“Our
NHS is in crisis. Years of underinvestment culminated in December 2017 being
the worst month on record for A&E performance and elective operations being
cancelled until the end of January. Targets are being missed and in-year cash
injections are not improving the financial performances of Trusts.

“Unlike
the Tories, Labour outlined a costed long term plan for funding the NHS. Labour
will give our NHS an extra £6 billion a year to ensure that our NHS remains a
world class service for all.”

Ends

Nia
Griffith MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, responding to the Public Accounts
Committee report on Delivering Carrier Strike, said:

“This report
highlights the significant concerns about the affordability of a key part of
the MoD’s equipment plan and a vital aspect of our future defence capability.

“The
Government needs to address this issue urgently and ensure that the Carrier
programme is adequately funded going forward, in particular the F-35s which
need to be paid for in US dollars and will be impacted by fluctuating foreign
exchange rates. 

“It’s
reassuring that MoD staff have told the Committee that they do not plan to take
the Albion class out of service early. The Defence Secretary should stop
dodging questions about the future of the vessels and confirm that he will not
be selling them off. The loss of this class without replacement would be an
unacceptable cut to our nation’s defences.”

Ends

Yasmin
Qureshi MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister, responding to the Government’s
announcement of a consultation into the HM Courts and Tribunals Service estate,
said:

“This
consultation should not be a smokescreen for yet more court closures and staff
losses which would further undermine local access to our justice system.

“Tory cuts
have already led to the closure of hundreds of courts and the axing of
thousands of court staff.

“There are
obvious fears that this consultation is just part of the Government’s plan to
cut hundreds of millions of pounds more from the Ministry of Justice budget by
2020.

“The
Government should not proceed with any further court closures until its promised
Courts Bill is published and its reforms can be subjected to full parliamentary
scrutiny.”

Ends

Richard
Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to the report into HMP Liverpool by the Chief
Inspector of Prisons, said:

“After
Carillion’s collapse, this report raises more very serious questions about the
outsourcing of Government contracts.

“Private
contractor Amey has failed to complete thousands of maintenance jobs at HMP
Liverpool and the Government must explain why it is continuing to receive
public money when the work simply isn’t being done.

“The
conditions at HMP Liverpool with rat infestations, leaking toilets, damp and
squalor are the worst ever seen by inspectors. This is a new low in the long
list of damning evidence that shows Tory outsourcing and cuts to the prison
service are fuelling a crisis in our prisons.

“Labour in
government would look at bringing prison maintenance contracts back in house.
The Government must now do the same.”

Ends