Clause 24 - Declaration of financial interests, gifts, etc
Health and Social Care Bill
4:00 pm
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
The hon. Gentleman is right. The clause points in two directions: first, towards preventing what I hope are rare instances of manipulation and exploitation of parents, of the kind that we have heard about recently; and secondly, in the direction of the widespread practice of giving small items in the normal course of business not as gifts but as advertising material. The question is of achieving the right balance.
I sense that we have moved into clause stand part territory, so in anticipation that there may not be a further debate on the clause, I want to mention that generally we support the idea that gifts should be declared. However, that should not be an unnecessarily bureaucratic process designed to catch gifts of very small value or items for use in the practice rather than for the personal benefit of the practitioner. I understand the difficulties in GMS of making that distinction, but I hope that the Minister will manage to do so when making the regulations.
In the light of the Minister's remarks, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendments made: No. 127, in page 17, line 36, leave out `subsection (1)' and insert `the subsection (1A) inserted by section 22'.
No. 128, in page 17, line 37, leave out `(1A)' and insert `(1B)'.
No. 129, in page 17, line 40, leave out `(1B)' and insert `(1C)'.
No. 130, in page 17, line 40, leave out `(1A)' and insert `(1B)'.
No. 131, in Clause 24, page 18, line 11, leave out `(g)' and insert `(k)'.
No. 132, in, page 18, line 13, leave out `(h)' and insert `(l)'.
No. 133, in page 18, line 17, leave out `(3)(h)' and insert `(3)(l)'.—[Mr. Denham.]
Clause 24, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.