Clause 40 - Short title, interpretation,commencement and extent
NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill
2:45 pm
Mr John Hutton (Minister of State, Department of Health; Barrow and Furness, Labour)
The purpose and effect of clause 40 are self-evident. I do not want to say much about it. It is a standard clause, setting out the Bill's short title and a range of other technical matters concerning commencement.
I want to respond briefly to the hon. Gentleman's final, acerbic comments about the process of NHS reform. I understand, as do, I think, all my hon. Friends, that the hon. Gentleman and his party are opposed to the reforms that we are introducing, and to the scale and pace of them. That is well documented. His comments in that regard do not need to be added to the record any further.
It is untrue to describe the present process either as a shambles or as in any way dependent on the provisions of the Bill. I tried to explain to him earlier—it seems like a long time ago—that the PCTs that are being, or that have already been, established are not being set up under the terms and provisions of this Bill. How could they be?