Clause 14 - Abolition of community health councils in england
Health and Social Care Bill
10:45 am
Dr Liam Fox (Woodspring, Conservative)
I see that my Whip is not present and I am treading on dangerous ground. I was in the Whip's Office and that I know how the membership of Standing Committees is decided. The more controversial the legislation, and the less sure the Government are of their ground, the less likely it is that independent opinion from their Back Benches will be represented. When a Committee is made up of those who did not speak in the Second Reading—missing those who discussed their reservations about Government policy—I would bet my bottom dollar that the Government know they are on weak ground intellectually.