Clause 2 - Health functions
Health Protection Agency Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Miss Melanie Johnson (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health; Welwyn Hatfield, Labour)
I contend that the Bill is by no means bland, and I have done so strongly this afternoon and this morning. It is enormously productive and offers many opportunities for better working and better linking between the various areas of risk and threat than has ever been afforded by any other organisation or arrangement. Indeed, the HPA is already strongly taking forward almost all those strands of work, even involving early work with the National Radiological
Protection Board and preparation for what it hopes will be the outcome of our deliberations in due course.
All those things are in place, and I believe that the Bill contains exactly the right amount of detail. I have to beg to disagree with the hon. Gentleman. I have answered his points as best I can. I think that his frustration rests on the fact that he would like something on the face of the Bill, which we think would be entirely inappropriate. I commend the clause to the Committee.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.