Labour

Sharon Hodgson MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, reacting to Cancer Research UK’s report into women’s cancer rates rising faster than men’s, said:

“Cancer Research UK’s warning of cancer rates amongst women rising faster than those amongst men in the next 20 years due to a lack of prevention measures should be a warning shot to Ministers that their policies are failing the health of our nation.

“Despite the radical upgrade we were promised in the Five Year Forward View two years ago, the Government’s mishandling of the NHS has seen this upgrade fall by the wayside and has been exacerbated by the deep cuts to public health funding we have seen.

“The Government has a lot of work to do when it comes to their Cancer Strategy, but they cannot let it be undermined by weakening preventative measures which can address these issues at source. Ministers need a serious rethink when it comes to their approach to public health.”

Ends

Angela Rayner MP, Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the first report of the Northern Powerhouse, said:

“This report from George Osborne’s think tank is all very well, but let’s not forget that he was a Chancellor in a Tory Government that presided over falling school budgets, a chronic teacher shortage and not enough good school places.

“The Tories’ huge cuts to schools funding will hit schools in the North hard, making the problems highlighted in this report even worse. The Northern Powerhouse means nothing unless the Government is prepared to invest in education, skills and infrastructure.

“Theresa May must take action or the divisions between North and South will become even deeper, with working people paying the price for inequality. The Government must stop undermining our schools’ ability to deliver an excellent education for all by failing to invest in our children’s future.”

Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow City Minister, responding to reports that city financiers have been jailed over £245m loans scam, said:

“It’s welcome news that this gang have been prosecuted and sentenced. All those tempted to game the system and commit fraud against the public should know from the sentences passed that they’ll pay the price.

“Lack of faith in the financial sector is bad for the public and bad for the sector itself. The Government needs to do more to reassure people that the bad practices have ended. For a start, Philip Hammond should reinstate the commission on culture in banking cancelled by his predecessor.”

Andy McDonald MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, welcoming the resolution of the train drivers’ dispute with Southern Rail, said:

“This is great news. At long last an agreement has been reached. While the full details are yet to emerge, it is essential that any safety concerns have been comprehensively addressed and resolved.  

“Sadly, trust between Southern management and the workforce has reached an all-time low, but hopefully this agreement marks the beginning of a more inclusive way of conducting industrial relations in the future.

“Southern’s long suffering passengers will be delighted at this news, but equally they need to see the appalling standards of service, which they have endured for far too long, greatly improve, and do so quickly.”

Statistics released today by the Department for Transport show there has been an increase in the number of road users either killed or seriously injured. The number of killed or seriously injured casualties (KSIs) increased by 6 per cent last year – to 25,160. By DfT’s own admission, this change is statistically significant.

Between July and September 2016, the change was even more pronounced – KSI casualties increased by 8 per cent when compared to the same period in 2015.

All road user groups saw an increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured: car occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists. There were also 2,070 children killed or seriously injured in the year ending September 2016 – an increase of 8 per cent.

Daniel Zeichner MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Minister, responding to statistics released today by the Department of Transport, said:

“These statistics are worrying. We want everyone to feel safe on the roads, whether they are walking, in a car, on a bike, on a bus, or using a motorcycle. It’s hugely concerning to see the increase in the number of children killed or injured in road collisions.

“Funding cuts to the police by this Tory Government have seen resources being diverted from road policing which inhibits the effective enforcement of penalties for dangerous drivers. If we are to make our roads safer, it’s crucial that road safety targets are reinstated and that police forces have the resources they need.”