Clause 31 - Power to charge
Health Bill
4:00 pm
Andrew Murrison (Shadow Minister, Health; Westbury, Conservative)
I think we are grinding to a conclusion, although not before we consider a couple of helpful amendments, the second of which is our amendment No. 21. It is quite simple and has to do with our concern that the determinations should be made in a timely fashion.
I am afraid that businesses constantly tell us that they are frustrated by bureaucracy failing to deliver within a reasonable time frame. Amendment No. 21 would insert words that allow the fee to be refunded if the matter is not determined within 28 days. That seems entirely reasonable to us, and I hope that the Minister, in a spirit of trying to ensure that business is dealt a fair hand, will consider it carefully.
Very few commercial organisations would consider our amendment unreasonable. Given that we are dealing with the interface between the NHS and commercial organisations, both working together to provide a service to patients, it seems appropriate to ensure that any requirements of the regulations are discharged within a reasonable time. Twenty eight days seems reasonable to us and would give an incentive for things to be determined speedily and in a timely fashion.