It does not really matter. Five of his colleagues have put their names to it. The point I am making to the noble Lord is that I agree with them about the way forward. It echoes very much what the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, was saying about recognising the disquiet,...

It does not really matter. Five of his colleagues have put their names to it. The point I am making to the noble Lord is that I agree with them about the way forward. It echoes very much what the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, was saying about recognising the disquiet,...

Would the noble Baroness like to say how many Liberal Democrat MPs have put their name to that particular Motion?

Would the noble Baroness like to say how many Liberal Democrat MPs have put their name to that particular Motion?

My Lords, I had not intended to speak on the amendment, but I want to say a word or two in support of what the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, has just said. She and others have referred to the rift that has been created as the Bill has gone through...

My Lords, I had not intended to speak on the amendment, but I want to say a word or two in support of what the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, has just said. She and others have referred to the rift that has been created as the Bill has gone through...

My Lords, I think that it is important for me to begin by acknowledging fully the force of the wonderful speech by my noble friend Lady Williams, and indeed acknowledging the powerful points made by other noble Lords regarding the climate of opinion among the medical royal colleges and others...

My Lords, I think that it is important for me to begin by acknowledging fully the force of the wonderful speech by my noble friend Lady Williams, and indeed acknowledging the powerful points made by other noble Lords regarding the climate of opinion among the medical royal colleges and others...

Surely the Co-operation and Competition Panel still exists, will continue to exist, and can deal with any competition issues that are raised—as it already does.

Surely the Co-operation and Competition Panel still exists, will continue to exist, and can deal with any competition issues that are raised—as it already does.

My Lords, the proposal that we have made in the Bill is for the Co-operation and Competition Panel to be part of new Monitor. If the noble Baroness's amendment runs a coach and horses through those new arrangements, they are clearly very seriously destabilised. Part 3 provides for a comprehensive...

My Lords, the proposal that we have made in the Bill is for the Co-operation and Competition Panel to be part of new Monitor. If the noble Baroness's amendment runs a coach and horses through those new arrangements, they are clearly very seriously destabilised. Part 3 provides for a comprehensive...

My Lords, those who have been here will have realised by now that this is one of my ““good boy”” days. At the risk of seeming sycophantic, even beyond being a good boy, I support every word that my noble friend Lord Clement-Jones has just said. I will refer back...

My Lords, those who have been here will have realised by now that this is one of my ““good boy”” days. At the risk of seeming sycophantic, even beyond being a good boy, I support every word that my noble friend Lord Clement-Jones has just said. I will refer back...

My Lords, I fully understand the fervour and passion with which my noble friend Lord Clement-Jones spoke, because he feels very strongly that he, with the help of others, brought about a real change in Part 3. I make no pretence about the fact that I began by being totally...

My Lords, I fully understand the fervour and passion with which my noble friend Lord Clement-Jones spoke, because he feels very strongly that he, with the help of others, brought about a real change in Part 3. I make no pretence about the fact that I began by being totally...

My Lords, I really enjoyed the noble Baroness's intervention. Today's news about the change in attitude of the Royal College of General Practitioners shows that we have reached a genuine watershed. It may not have changed its mind absolutely, although it appears that membership pressure is being applied to the...

My Lords, I really enjoyed the noble Baroness's intervention. Today's news about the change in attitude of the Royal College of General Practitioners shows that we have reached a genuine watershed. It may not have changed its mind absolutely, although it appears that membership pressure is being applied to the...

Would the noble Lord care to tell me to which part of the 2006 Act he is referring because, according to my recollection of the Act, it does not mention the word ““competition”” anywhere?

Would the noble Lord care to tell me to which part of the 2006 Act he is referring because, according to my recollection of the Act, it does not mention the word ““competition”” anywhere?

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot agree with the noble Lord, Lord Owen, as regards supporting the amendment. However, I appreciate that the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, has adopted a much more emollient line on Amendment 300A, is not making a full frontal attack on the whole Bill...

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot agree with the noble Lord, Lord Owen, as regards supporting the amendment. However, I appreciate that the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, has adopted a much more emollient line on Amendment 300A, is not making a full frontal attack on the whole Bill...

What is the noble Lord's answer to the question which I put? I was not attacking him and his party. I realise that he has to attack; that is his method of dealing with issues. That is a shame as I have from time to time tempted him not to...

What is the noble Lord's answer to the question which I put? I was not attacking him and his party. I realise that he has to attack; that is his method of dealing with issues. That is a shame as I have from time to time tempted him not to...

My Lords, that is precisely the point and that is precisely why the Labour Government were avoiding any argument because that is where the big loophole lies. Any competition lawyer will tell you that that was the point where EU competition law started to bite in the NHS. That is...

My Lords, that is precisely the point and that is precisely why the Labour Government were avoiding any argument because that is where the big loophole lies. Any competition lawyer will tell you that that was the point where EU competition law started to bite in the NHS. That is...

My Lords, as we near the end of our deliberations on Report, I hope to set out the case for changing not the policy but the pace of implementation. We have discussed extensively the policy background and the legal and other implications of this Bill. We have agreed on some...

My Lords, as we near the end of our deliberations on Report, I hope to set out the case for changing not the policy but the pace of implementation. We have discussed extensively the policy background and the legal and other implications of this Bill. We have agreed on some...

My Lords, the case has been made extremely well for accepting that one of the most vehement elements of criticism could be somewhat defused if this amendment was accepted by the Government. After all, some people have argued that the whole of Part 3 should be abolished. By accepting that...

My Lords, the case has been made extremely well for accepting that one of the most vehement elements of criticism could be somewhat defused if this amendment was accepted by the Government. After all, some people have argued that the whole of Part 3 should be abolished. By accepting that...

299: Clause 300, page 269, line 24, at end insert— ““( ) the first regulations under section 84 (licensing requirement: exemption regulations);”” 300: Clause 300, page 269, line 24, at end insert— ““( ) the first order under section 87 (approval by Secretary of State of licensing criteria);”” 300ZA: Clause...

299: Clause 300, page 269, line 24, at end insert— ““( ) the first regulations under section 84 (licensing requirement: exemption regulations);”” 300: Clause 300, page 269, line 24, at end insert— ““( ) the first order under section 87 (approval by Secretary of State of licensing criteria);”” 300ZA: Clause...

300A: Clause 302, page 271, line 35, at end insert— ““(A1) Part 3 of this Act shall come into force, by order, on a date to be determined by Parliament, which shall not be before April 2016. (A2) Before bringing forward any order to bring Part 3 of this Act...

300A: Clause 302, page 271, line 35, at end insert— ““(A1) Part 3 of this Act shall come into force, by order, on a date to be determined by Parliament, which shall not be before April 2016. (A2) Before bringing forward any order to bring Part 3 of this Act...

297C: Schedule 24, page 445, line 38, at end insert— 297D: Schedule 24, page 446, line 18, second column, at end insert— Amendments 297C and 297D agreed. Clause 300 : Regulations, orders and directions Clause 300 : Regulations, orders and directions Amendment 298 not moved. Amendments 299 to 300ZB Moved...

297C: Schedule 24, page 445, line 38, at end insert— 297D: Schedule 24, page 446, line 18, second column, at end insert— Amendments 297C and 297D agreed. Clause 300 : Regulations, orders and directions Clause 300 : Regulations, orders and directions Amendment 298 not moved. Amendments 299 to 300ZB Moved...

297A: Schedule 23, page 444, line 5, at end insert— 297B: Schedule 23, page 444, line 21, second column, at end insert— Amendments 297A and 297B agreed. Schedule 24 : Staff transfer schemes Amendments 297C and 297D Schedule 24 : Staff transfer schemes Amendments 297C and 297D Moved by

297A: Schedule 23, page 444, line 5, at end insert— 297B: Schedule 23, page 444, line 21, second column, at end insert— Amendments 297A and 297B agreed. Schedule 24 : Staff transfer schemes Amendments 297C and 297D Schedule 24 : Staff transfer schemes Amendments 297C and 297D Moved by

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. First, let me say to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, that no discourtesy at all was intended. We may have misunderstood each other. I never intended to press the amendment, but of course wished to raise the issue in order to...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. First, let me say to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, that no discourtesy at all was intended. We may have misunderstood each other. I never intended to press the amendment, but of course wished to raise the issue in order to...