Further written evidence to be reported to the House
Health and Social Care Bill
9:45 am
Ben Bradshaw: I would expect the new commission to use its judgment and to take advantage of the new sliding scale of powers, which I think were probably more warmly welcomed by the other two organisations than by the Healthcare Commission, which feels that it already has adequate powers. You are right, Mr. Burden, to say that, when questioned, Anna Walker said that she did not want those powers to be taken out—I suspect because there is a belief that the new range of powers is not only about how the commission will use them, but the galvanising and deterrent effect that the existence of those powers will have on provider organisations. I do not think that we should lose sight of that issue, which was not really raised on Tuesday. We should leave that to the judgment of the new commission. I do not think that we should lay down in the legislation under what circumstances the commission should issue a penalty notice or suspend a licence. That will be for the commission itself to decide, in a proportionate but robust way.