Clause 45 - Care Trusts where voluntarypartnership arrangements
Health and Social Care Bill
10:30 am
Mr John Hutton (Minister of State, Department of Health; Barrow and Furness, Labour)
I have to be honest with the Committee and say that I have not seen that research, but I will dig it out. It is probably on somebody's shelf at the Department of Health and perhaps later today I will look at the executive summary.
Many admire the system of health and social care delivery in Northern Ireland, not least the Select Committee on Health, which looked favourably on the system. Perhaps the hon. Member for Isle of Wight, who is a leading member of that Committee, will advise us to the contrary. The Select Committee on Health did not think that bringing health and social services closer together would necessarily lead to the hon. Gentleman's proposition, that there would inevitably be a drift toward the medicalisation—whatever that is—of social care services. That is absolutely not what we have in mind.
There is a distinctive and clear role for social care services. That role will continue under the umbrella of a care trust if, under clause 45, that is what local partners decide is the most appropriate vehicle under.
I will deal fully with some of the other wider concerns about care trusts later in our proceedings. I understand the spirit behind amendment No.295, but the concerns raised by the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam are unfounded in relation to clause 45, which fully recognises that the arrangements will be voluntary. Local partners will apply to the Secretary of State for designation as a care trust. The amendment is legally unnecessary and would not help the drafting of the clause.