Chair Comment on the Budget:

“Three years ago, this Committee identified funding as a critical factor in the delivery of safe staffing levels in maternity care. We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement of £35 million over three years to improve maternity safety. It’s a positive start.

 “Good news to see significant additional spending to boost NHS productivity and in particular funding to modernise IT systems, including the expansion of the NHS App. We called for much of this in our digitisation of the NHS report last year but will need to scrutinise carefully the NHS Productivity Plan - when it’s published - the Chancellor promised to fund it in full today.

“We fully recognise that vaping offers an important route out of smoking for those wanting to quit and welcome the new tax on vapes to discourage their use by children. If there is any way it can be introduced sooner than October 2026 that would be important to protect children from the risks of vaping sooner rather than later. The Government should urgently press ahead with changes they’ve already announced to make vaping less accessible and appealing to young people as part of still awaited Smoking & Vaping Bill.

“Finally, the Chancellor's announcement of an additional £2.5bn funding for the NHS next year is welcome at a time when some patients in some parts of the country continue to face long waits for treatment."

Further information

• Health and Social Care Committee
• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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