Clause 1 - English Health Authorities: change of name
NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill
5:15 pm
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford, Conservative)
I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman. I had forgotten that he is sitting next to a Government Whip, so no doubt he had to put it on the record that he had overstepped the mark and was heavily backtracking to remain within the bounds of the controls.
My hon. Friend the Member for North-East Hertfordshire has moved some important amendments today and, unlike the hon. Member for Leigh, he is right because it is crucial that when an important new structure with the vital role, as the Government keep telling us, of the strategic overview of health care provision throughout the country is set up, there should be consultation within the local community. Perhaps, as the hon. Gentleman said, we have been a little modest in suggesting who the consultations should be with. Perhaps the amendments are right in principle and would enhance and improve the Bill, but need to be considered further at a later stage to ensure that we have not missed out any people or organisations that should be included in the consultation process. I presume that the Minister will also be sympathetic to the amendments, even if he believes, like his hon. Friend, that they are a little narrow in suggesting who should be consulted.
There is a similar precedent for consultation. At the beginning of the debate, Miss Widdecombe, you kindly said that we could go slightly wide of the amendments, but I assure you that I do not seek to test your patience and I shall watch you very carefully so as not to overstep the bounds. I am trying to explain that there is a precedent. During the proceedings of the Health Act 1999, Miss Widdecombe, you were the shadow Secretary of State for Health and leading for the Opposition. You will be familiar with the fact that when the Government set up the PCTs they were anxious that they should emerge as voluntary organisations after full consultation with the local community. We are setting up new groups or structures within the health service and there is a precedent for the SHAs--the original powers taken by the Government to set up the PCTs and PCGs in 1999. I am sure that you will remember, Miss Widdecombe, that the then Minister of State, ironically, Standing Committee A, during the afternoon--there are many similarities that I hope will keep me in order--on 27 April 1999, said:
``Given some of the comments that have been made, it is important to emphasise that we do not intend a headlong rush''--
We have heard a lot about headlong rushes today, particularly this morning--
``to be made into PCTs and that it is not a part of our agenda to impose PCTs on the national health service.''
This is my point:
``We want measured and voluntary change, and progression to trust status that is driven locally and based on local views. Full and proper consultation must therefore always occur before a PCT is established, and due consideration should be given to the views of a full range of local stakeholders.''--—[Official Report, Standing Committee A, 27 April 1999; c. 252.]
The then Minister, like the hon. Member for Leigh, had a broader vision of the bigger picture than I have, and that is my fault. The hon. Gentleman's criticism is that our amendments are too narrow, and I accept that. I plead guilty.