Clause 42
Health and Social Care Bill
1:30 pm
Stephen O'Brien (Shadow Minister, Health; Eddisbury, Conservative)
We will not press the amendment to a vote because I can see that we will not win on this one, and I will withdraw it on that basis. However, I hope that the Minister will take the following point seriously. If one genuinely hopes, as I believe his Department does, that all trusts can move toward foundation trust status—that is our stated aim, and by the very nature of what is intended, that must be the aspiration—it would make more sense if the regime that covers FTs, in the light of how Monitor divides up its responsibilities, is consistent with the provision that we are considering. That said, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.