Catherine McKinnell is the Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, and has been an MP continually since 6 May 2010. She currently holds the Government post of Minister of State (Ministry of Justice). Sits on the Public Accounts Committee.
Overall, across health & social care this Parliament
Alive and kicking!
Ranks 19th of 1273 MPs and peers who have spoken on health or care this Parliament — top 1%. 150 contributions since 2024-07-24.
Catherine McKinnell has engaged extensively on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform, contributing 40 debate speeches across health and social care topics. She has consistently advocated for systemic improvements to SEND provision, including funding reform, early intervention, and partnership working between local authorities and health services, whilst also raising the urgent issue of maternity care failures and clinical negligence costs within the NHS. Her contributions reflect a focus on outcomes for vulnerable children and families, alongside concerns about NHS accountability and investment priorities.
Generated from their own Hansard record, below
“…Her baby Seren was born stillborn. The NHS spends almost as much on clinical negligence payouts as it does on maternity care itself. Can the Secretary of State update us on progress made following the Lock review into clinical negligence? It is about time we started investing in better care, rather than paying out for…”
National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation · 2026-06-30 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…Yet sadly, Amie is far from alone. Failures at maternity units across the country have sadly returned to the spotlight in recent years. The Secretary of State was right to commission a national review, led by Baroness Amos.”
Clinical Negligence · 2026-03-17 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…Any reform will be guided by how we improve support for children with SEND. There will always be a legal right to additional support, which this Government will protect.…”
SEND: Education, Health and Care Plans · 2025-07-21 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…Gentleman is pre-empting decisions before they have been made. We have not made decisions about the future of EHCPs. We are listening carefully and working with the sector to make sure we have the workforce in the system and the support systems to identify needs early.”
Topical Questions · 2025-07-21 · Read on Hansard ↗
“…we will commence a phased transition process, which will include working with local authorities to manage their SEND systems, including their deficits, alongside an extension to the statutory override until the end of 2027-28.”
SEND: Education, Health and Care Plans · 2025-07-21 · Read on Hansard ↗
“We are engaging extensively with families and experts as we seek to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. We have invested £1 billion into high-needs budgets and £740 million into creating more specialist places.”
Children with SEND · 2025-07-21 · Read on Hansard ↗
Contributions reproduced under the Open Parliament Licence.