Clause 8
NHS Redress Bill [Lords]
9:00 am
Stephen O'Brien (Shadow Minister, Health; Eddisbury, Conservative)
As my hon. Friend has developed his arguments, he has reminded me of a further point, so perhaps he will forgive me for reinforcing his arguments. As those of us who have been trained in the law know, one of the essential points in training professional lawyers is that one must first establish the facts, secondly establish the law and only thirdly give advice. If the scheme is a genuine attempt to have fact finding as a priority at the front end, those involved will not need to know the law or the legal advice until the facts have been established, and that is wholly consistent with the way in which a professional should approach these issues. I hope that that gives my hon. Friend’s arguments some reinforcement.