Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:15 pm on 15 January 2008.
Stephen O'Brien
Shadow Minister (Health)
Will the Minister confirm whether CSCI and the Healthcare Commission have had to date the power set out in the Clause? What examples can he give of where punishments of fines or imprisonment have been exacted under the equivalent powers for the two current regulators? On the basis of those actions, is this, in the words of Goldilocks, too much, too little, or just right? Does this make sense when applied to both health and social care, or would the courts sort that out? I hope that the Minister will take this opportunity to give a response to those questions.
Ben Bradshaw
Minister of State (Regional Affairs) (South West), The Minister of State, Department of Health
The powers already exist. The levels of the fines have been increased, as the explanatory notes explain, from £5,000 to £50,000. I cannot give the hon. Gentleman chapter and verse on how many fines have been levied and how many people have been sent to prison. He can ask the existing regulators, or I can ask them on his behalf.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
