Jimmy Hood (Lanark & Hamilton East, Labour)

Clause 13; unlucky for some.

Stephen O'Brien (Shadow Minister, Health; Eddisbury, Conservative)

I fear that it is unlucky for you, Mr. Hood, because I have stopped you in your flow, but it just so happens that 13 has always been my lucky number, so I have to hope that this is the one for me.

I simply have a question for the Minister, which is lucky for everyone. What protection does clause 13 offer the taxpayer, or indeed council tax payers, with regard to contracts cancelled as a result of such action? We are looking at the cancellation of registration, so I hope that his briefing will give me the answer to that question because I am sure that that will be seriously contemplated by those trying to understand the import of the Bill.

Ben Bradshaw (Minister of State (Health Services; Minister for the South West), Department of Health; Exeter, Labour)

Of course, such a sanction would be used only as a very last resort. It would be used, for example, if the regulator felt that the immediate closure of a hospital or care home would endanger people’s health or even their lives. Given that assurance, I hope that the hon. Gentleman accepts that situations in which life or the quality of care are seriously at risk will be the priority of a robust, independent regulator.