Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 11:15 am on 16 October 2003.

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Photo of Lord Clement-Jones Lord Clement-Jones Liberal Democrat 11:15, 16 October 2003

Although the Minister has just displayed admirable consistency with his previous response on Monday, I want to put on record that noble Lords on these Benches do not believe that it is wholly satisfactory. I well understand his unwillingness to include in the Bill references to Agenda for Change. That is simply a device to debate this issue once more. However, what is particularly troubling is the fact that the regulator will have no place in this process at all. I can well understand wishing to keep this as a matter between unions and employers, but to have no regulatory mechanism at all in these circumstances bodes very badly for foundation trusts. That is the root of many objections to foundation trusts, particularly on the staff side. No doubt we shall return to this issue.