I was about to associate myself with all the comments that have just been made by the Minister and the hon. Member for West Chelmsford, but the hon. Member for West Chelmsford spoiled that. With the exception of his final comments, on which I shall not be drawn at length but to which I will return, I should like to associate myself with what he said.

The Minister said that the conduct of the Committee had made the last five weeks of his life unforgettable. I hope that he did not mean that literally and that he was not claiming that his life was to be terminated. I hope that he was referring to the ''past'' five weeks of his life.

It is no reflection on the Minister or on your chairmanship, Mr. Griffiths—and that of your colleague, Mr. Atkinson—that we did not discuss a significant number of clauses, particularly those dealing with CHAI and CSCI. The House should reflect on whether it is satisfactory that under a programme motion, we have spare time at the end of this sitting that could have been used for consideration

of those clauses. It is worth noting that—through no fault of yours, Mr. Griffiths, your colleague or, indeed, Opposition Members—large chunks of the Bill will go on to the statute book without being discussed in Committee.

Finally, the hon. Member for West Chelmsford must be dealt with. I am pleased that he has corrected himself. When he first raised what he considers to be those famous words, he said that my hon. Friend had said that principles could be altered according to local circumstances. He has demonstrated that he was wrong to say that—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman claimed on a number of occasions, as he can see from the record, that my hon. Friend had said that people's principles could be altered to fit local circumstances. That is not what she said.

The hon. Gentleman gave me notice five weeks ago that he would raise this and I am prepared to put on the record that if foundation trusts become the only game in town—as with PFI, another policy whose introduction we might regret—in terms of improving services for local people, we will be prepared to support our local hospitals while regretting the fact that that is the only option available. I know that that applies to some Labour Members, although they will not admit it. Unlike the hon. Member for West Chelmsford, we have proposed alternatives to Government proposals, as the record will show. The Conservatives have provided none. It has been enjoyable sparring with the hon. Gentleman, particularly when he thinks that he has won but has not. Events will show that to be the case.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill, as amended, to be reported.

Committee rose at twenty-nine minutes to Four o'clock.