Results 1-20 of 893 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Baroness Thornton

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments 13, 15 and 25. The proposed amendments seek to correct a mistake that has recently come to light and which was made in the Health Act 2006 and which has been consolidated into the National Health Service Act 2006. Commons Amendments 13 and 25 repeal Section 180(2)(c) of the National Health Service Act 2006...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: I spoke to this amendment with Amendment 12. I beg to move. Amendment to the Motion Tabled by Baroness Meacher 14A: Insert the following new Clause- "Private health care (1) Section 44 (private health care) of the National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41) is amendment as follows. (2) In subsection (2)- (a) after "is not greater than" insert "- (a)"; (b) at end insert "or (b) 1.5% of the total...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, I spoke to this amendment with Amendment 13. I beg to move. Motion agreed. Motion on Amendment 16 Moved by Baroness Thornton That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 16.

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, this is the privilege amendment. Motion agreed. Motion on Amendments 17 to 25. Moved by Baroness Thornton That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments 17 to 25. Motion agreed.

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: I did mean a 1.5 per cent average cap on all acute foundation trusts in 2008-2009. There is a difference between giving mental health foundation trusts some flexibility where they have none, and changing the basis of the cap for all foundation trusts. There would need to be a proper review before making any wholesale change. This needs to be worked out with the NHS. The noble Earl said there...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: The noble Baroness makes a very good point. It is exactly why we need a thoroughgoing review. The Government have already begun their review of this policy and are committed to reform. The amendment seeks to address a genuine anomaly while recognising that the risk of unintended consequences is such that further change must be made only on the most informed of bases and be developed with the...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, the debate today has shown that this area remains complex. There are a multitude of valuable views and principles that must be balanced. Amendment 14A, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, seeks to raise the level of cap for all foundation trusts to at least 1.5 per cent and introduces a safeguard that private patient activity must in all circumstances be in the interests of...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 12. In doing so, I shall also speak to Commons Amendment 14. We had a full debate in the course of the Bill's passage about the private patient cap and its impacts on the National Health Service and I thank all noble Lords for their valuable and informed contributions to our discussion. I am pleased to say...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: I have no idea whether people are aware of that. I certainly was aware that this technology had been discussed with trading standards officers, but it does not actually change the point. We are committed to making regulations relating to tobacco under the new powers provided by this Bill. Of course, careful consideration will be given to the responses to the consultation and to complying with...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: I stand corrected by my noble friend and thank him.

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, it is clear from today's debate that protecting young people from harm caused by tobacco is a serious issue which needs to be addressed. It is one that many feel passionately about. As the noble Earl said, we do not disagree about the importance of this issue. Amendment 11 will be a major step towards tackling the serious problem of young people accessing tobacco from vending...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, we are giving businesses time to deal with the fact that these regulations will be in place, as we promised them that we would, and as I explained to the representatives this morning.

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, we have consulted consistently with the National Association of Cigarette Machine Operators and have taken its views into account. Of course we discussed that matter with it when we were drafting the regulations that were to be considered before the other place took its decision. We are sympathetic to small businesses that will be affected by the legislation to prohibit tobacco...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: I do not know the answer to that question and I will certainly let the noble Lord know, but in considering the proposals on vending machines, the competing interests were debated and the effects on the vending industry were discussed. The noble Lords, Lord Palmer and Lord Monson, suggested that removing vending machines would mean that more illicit tobacco would be sold in pubs and clubs....

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: Can I make some progress? My noble friend Lord Campbell-Savours referred to the technology and the equipment. The use of equipment to prevent vending machines selling cigarettes to children was an option included in the Department of Health's 2008 consultation. This is not new technology. I know that the tobacco vending industry has been active in making both your Lordships and Members of...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: I can see why my noble friend is pushing that point but, as I said, it would be very difficult for any of us, both at this end of the building and the other, not to know what technology was available to control vending machines. I do not have the relevant Hansard in front of me but I have looked through it and I know that there was a passionate debate on both sides of the issue. I would be...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: I have spoken to these amendments with Amendment 1. Motion agreed. House resumed. Motion on Amendment 11 Moved by Baroness Thornton That this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 11 and do propose Amendments 11A to 11G as consequential amendments to the Bill. 11: Page 26, line 4, leave out "or imposing requirements in relation to" 11A: Page 26, leave out lines 6 to 10 11B: Page...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 11. I shall also speak to government Amendments 11A to 11G. Amendment 11 was one of a series tabled by my right honourable friend the Member for Makerfield, Ian McCartney, and the honourable Member for Colchester, Bob Russell, in the other place. Their amendments sought to remove the power to impose...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: The only reason why I expressed surprise at the intervention of the noble Baroness, Lady Murphy, is that she opened her remarks by saying that she had been involved in the lengthy discussions between Monitor and the Government, and Monitor has said that it was very satisfied with this process. Obviously the Secretary of State can request information and can request Monitor to consider matters...

Health Bill [HL]: Commons Amendments (9 Nov 2009)

Baroness Thornton: The Secretary of State will not intervene; he will ask Monitor to consider deauthorisation. The key point is that Monitor then has to explain its decision. It can say no, as it is an independent regulator. It has every power to say no but, if it chooses to say no, it has to do so publicly. This is about transparency and having to say no on the public record. The measure also gives Monitor a...