I want to intervene briefly because we want to vote on these matters today. The amendment subtly gets to the problem at the heart of the Bill, which totally underestimates the new pressures that will build up within foundation trusts on management to change the nature of the patient body...

I want to intervene briefly because we want to vote on these matters today. The amendment subtly gets to the problem at the heart of the Bill, which totally underestimates the new pressures that will build up within foundation trusts on management to change the nature of the patient body...

So that we can have it absolutely on the record, is the noble Lord saying that a teaching hospital in central London—

So that we can have it absolutely on the record, is the noble Lord saying that a teaching hospital in central London—

Will the noble Lord explain, in very simple language that people outside can understand, what is to prevent a central London teaching hospital with an international reputation ending up taking almost half its business from overseas patients who pay by private means?

Will the noble Lord explain, in very simple language that people outside can understand, what is to prevent a central London teaching hospital with an international reputation ending up taking almost half its business from overseas patients who pay by private means?

It is a very important question.

It is a very important question.

We all know of cases where in the real world GPs have said to their patients, ““Go private and go early. Effectively, jump the queue””. That is going on all over the country and in certain parts it is happening on a great scale. If that is the case, what...

We all know of cases where in the real world GPs have said to their patients, ““Go private and go early. Effectively, jump the queue””. That is going on all over the country and in certain parts it is happening on a great scale. If that is the case, what...

I object to the procedures of the House of Lords being changed by a junior Minister.

I object to the procedures of the House of Lords being changed by a junior Minister.

What would happen if the noble Baroness had her way? If a trust got itself into trouble, who would fund its liabilities?

What would happen if the noble Baroness had her way? If a trust got itself into trouble, who would fund its liabilities?

Perhaps I may ask the noble Earl a question in order to assist people when they read Hansard. In the insolvency regime, to which he referred, what would happen where suppliers of services at a local level had outstanding invoices that had not been paid? Is it that as suppliers...

Perhaps I may ask the noble Earl a question in order to assist people when they read Hansard. In the insolvency regime, to which he referred, what would happen where suppliers of services at a local level had outstanding invoices that had not been paid? Is it that as suppliers...