Clause 12 - Further functions of the Commission for Health Improvement
NHS Reform & Health Care Professions
12:30 pm
Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
We are having a useful discussion in which there is a difference of agreement. I accept some of what the Minister says. I am prepared to meet him halfway: it would be legitimate for the Minister to set priorities for the health service if he ensured that there was the same extent of independent scrutiny as there is for those who are forced to do the Government's bidding when those priorities are set. I made that point when speaking to a previous group of amendments. The Government cannot set priorities reckless as to their effect on the quality of health care and expect those who are subject to monitoring of performance and quality of delivery by the Commission for Health Improvement to take the blame. The more independent the commission is, the more important it is that the Government's priority setting and directions are subject to inspection.