Clause 52 - National reviews
Health and Social Care(Community Health and Standards) Bill
2:45 pm
Mr David Lammy (Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Health; Tottenham, Labour)
Amendments Nos. 436, 437, 440 and 445 make subtle drafting changes suggested by parliamentary counsel to clauses 52, 53 and 66. The consequence of amendment No. 438 will make it clear that in discharging its functions CHI will be able to carry out an inspection of any NHS body or any other person who provides, or is to provide, health care. For example, that may enable CHI to assess the suitability of premises and/or other commissioning arrangements that are intended to provide health care before they are put into use.
Amendment No. 442 makes it clear that under its functions of promoting or undertaking comparative or other studies and improving the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the exercise of any of the functions of a PCT, a strategic health authority or an English NHS trust, CHI may inspect any English NHS body other than a special health authority and/or any person exercising the functions of such a body. Special health authorities are excluded from such inspection as we have decided to avoid overlap with those functions that fall within the remit of the National Audit Office.
Amendment No. 447 was tabled to make it clearer that the clause will enable the Commission for Social Care Inspection to carry out an inspection on any local authority in England when carrying out studies on economy and efficiency in the provision of local authority social services. We always intended that the clause would enable CSCI to do that. Although the Bill would have that effect, the amendment would provide an additional subsection, putting the matter beyond doubt and clarifying it.