Commenting on the National Health Service (Amended Duties and Powers) Bill which is being debated in the House of Commons today, local MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford said:
“The Scottish National Party will be supporting this Private Members Bill in the House of Commons to prevent the back-door privatisation of the health service.
“While responsibility for the NHS in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, any cuts to NHS funding in England have knock on implications for the Scottish block grant and result in cuts to the Scottish budget.
“The parts of the Bill that apply directly to Scotland would exempt the NHS from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). TTIP could threaten the public ownership of the NHS and could undermine the democratic decisions of the people of Scotland. The Scottish Government’s proposals in its submission to the Smith Commission call for fiscal autonomy for the Scottish Parliament which would give Scottish Government greater control over NHS funding.
“I will be seeking cast iron assurances from the Westminster Secretary of State for Health that the TTIP will not impact on the Scottish Government’s ability to determine how NHS services are provided, and that there will be no obligation to open the NHS in Scotland to private providers as is happening in England.”
“While responsibility for the NHS in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, any cuts to NHS funding in England have knock on implications for the Scottish block grant and result in cuts to the Scottish budget.
“The parts of the Bill that apply directly to Scotland would exempt the NHS from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). TTIP could threaten the public ownership of the NHS and could undermine the democratic decisions of the people of Scotland. The Scottish Government’s proposals in its submission to the Smith Commission call for fiscal autonomy for the Scottish Parliament which would give Scottish Government greater control over NHS funding.
“I will be seeking cast iron assurances from the Westminster Secretary of State for Health that the TTIP will not impact on the Scottish Government’s ability to determine how NHS services are provided, and that there will be no obligation to open the NHS in Scotland to private providers as is happening in England.”