Clause 2 - Payments relating to past performance
Health and Social Care Bill
12:45 pm
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for making that point. I am mindful that there is only a minute and a half to lunchtime.
The purpose of the amendments is to ensure that these arrangements are placed in the public domain for all to see. That will mean there is a degree of transparency which we hope will inevitably lead to a degree of objectivity and avoidance of the worst distortions that have been created when trusts or health authorities seek to comply with essentially artificial criteria set by Government which become the basis of decisions that are very important to them, such as the allocation of funding.
I commend the amendments to the Committee. I consider that the Government have nothing to fear from them if they intend to proceed as the Minister outlined. In the interests of ensuring greater scrutiny, greater accountability, transparency and an element of objectivity in these arrangements, they will greatly improve the Bill.
It being One o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Adjourned till this day at half-past Four o'clock.