To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Health Service Commissioning Board Authority is ready to go live in April 2013 with a system in place for monitoring general quality and patient safety.[HL1455]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Health Service Commissioning Board Authority is ready to go live in April 2013 with a system in place for monitoring general quality and patient safety.[HL1455]

These amendments—the last group that we shall consider tonight—contain important issues, including that of local community involvement, which was raised by the hon. Member for Leicester West (Liz Kendall). Like other Members, I have an interest in the subject, and have done so throughout my time in politics. I happen...

These amendments—the last group that we shall consider tonight—contain important issues, including that of local community involvement, which was raised by the hon. Member for Leicester West (Liz Kendall). Like other Members, I have an interest in the subject, and have done so throughout my time in politics. I happen...

I absolutely concur with my right hon. Friend. For the record in this House, I pay tribute to our colleagues in the Lords for their achievements and their efforts in securing some of the protections for the NHS that we are debating today. There was absolutely no mention of education...

I absolutely concur with my right hon. Friend. For the record in this House, I pay tribute to our colleagues in the Lords for their achievements and their efforts in securing some of the protections for the NHS that we are debating today. There was absolutely no mention of education...

I will finish this point. However, under the Bill, clinical commissioning groups—the newest bodies in the NHS, and with the least experience—will have the weakest corporate governance of any public body in the country. They are required to have only two lay members. However, there has been no reassurance in...

I will finish this point. However, under the Bill, clinical commissioning groups—the newest bodies in the NHS, and with the least experience—will have the weakest corporate governance of any public body in the country. They are required to have only two lay members. However, there has been no reassurance in...

I hope that my hon. Friend will be reassured by two points. First, the Bill contains far greater duties and responsibilities for integration over the whole provision of care within the NHS, and that will obviously include children's services. Secondly and more precisely on the narrow issue that he raised,...

I hope that my hon. Friend will be reassured by two points. First, the Bill contains far greater duties and responsibilities for integration over the whole provision of care within the NHS, and that will obviously include children's services. Secondly and more precisely on the narrow issue that he raised,...

There have been 1,000 Government amendments to this disastrous Health and Social Care Bill—374 in the other place alone—and it is unacceptable that elected Members in this House have been given so little time to debate amendments that will affect patients and the public in every constituency in England. It...

There have been 1,000 Government amendments to this disastrous Health and Social Care Bill—374 in the other place alone—and it is unacceptable that elected Members in this House have been given so little time to debate amendments that will affect patients and the public in every constituency in England. It...

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's intervention, but I am afraid I do not share that view. I hope that what I shall go on to say will help to give him additional reassurance on that. There will be additional safeguards in the Bill to ensure that those processes are transparent,...

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's intervention, but I am afraid I do not share that view. I hope that what I shall go on to say will help to give him additional reassurance on that. There will be additional safeguards in the Bill to ensure that those processes are transparent,...

I will in a moment, but I want to pose a few questions first. The Secretary of State clearly cannot answer for private companies that are exempt from FOI requests. He cannot answer for GP commissioning groups, which are essentially independent contractors and private bodies. Surely, it is clear that...

I will in a moment, but I want to pose a few questions first. The Secretary of State clearly cannot answer for private companies that are exempt from FOI requests. He cannot answer for GP commissioning groups, which are essentially independent contractors and private bodies. Surely, it is clear that...

There is almost—no, there is—an air of déjà vu to this part of the hon. Gentleman's speech, as there always is. We discussed this in Committee, and I am a bit frustrated that he cannot quite get it. The fact is that at the moment there is virtually no transparency...

There is almost—no, there is—an air of déjà vu to this part of the hon. Gentleman's speech, as there always is. We discussed this in Committee, and I am a bit frustrated that he cannot quite get it. The fact is that at the moment there is virtually no transparency...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I am grateful for that intervention and I share the hon. Gentleman's concern that this amendment, which deals with the Secretary of State's powers, and, indeed, the whole thrust of the Bill, are likely to lead to a fragmented service, when what we all want to see is co-operation and...

I am grateful for that intervention and I share the hon. Gentleman's concern that this amendment, which deals with the Secretary of State's powers, and, indeed, the whole thrust of the Bill, are likely to lead to a fragmented service, when what we all want to see is co-operation and...

Well, as Aneurin Bevan said, ““You give your version of the truth, and I will give mine.”” In my assessment, yes, there will certainly be a mandate, but this House's power to scrutinise and hold Ministers to account will be severely diminished under the new arrangements. Writing down that the...

Well, as Aneurin Bevan said, ““You give your version of the truth, and I will give mine.”” In my assessment, yes, there will certainly be a mandate, but this House's power to scrutinise and hold Ministers to account will be severely diminished under the new arrangements. Writing down that the...

I have concluded my remarks, so perhaps the Minister can address those points in his summing up.

I have concluded my remarks, so perhaps the Minister can address those points in his summing up.

I am going to finish this point. The Minister of State, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow), said that all and any changes to those provisions were ““unnecessary””, and denied that there was any lack of effective governance. I would remind Liberal Democrat Members that the Minister...

I am going to finish this point. The Minister of State, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow), said that all and any changes to those provisions were ““unnecessary””, and denied that there was any lack of effective governance. I would remind Liberal Democrat Members that the Minister...