Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:15 pm on 15 January 2008.
Stephen O'Brien
Shadow Minister (Health)
Under the Clause relating to the grant or refusal of registration as a service provider, we are seeking to place some restriction on the actions that the commission may take “at any time”. Amendment No. 9 would add a new subsection (5A) providing that
“the Commission shall be obliged to publish its reasons for any actions it takes.”
Amendment No. 10 does the same for the processes in clause 11.
I am happy that the regulator needs to be fleet of foot—a phrase that I sought to impress on the Minister earlier—in its approach to regulation and that as it registers and reviews services, it might find that important additions are needed to the registration procedure. Our concern is somewhat simple, but twofold. The Bill gives the commission the licence to change the registration of providers at will, and with what regularity it chooses. What assurances can the Minister give that that will not happen to the point at which it could become unpredictable and, at worst, done on a whim, rather than at will?
More concerning, given the lack of independence from ministerial meddling that the CQC has regarding the arguments that we have managed to make, but the Minister has not accepted, are the potential changes in registration that are driven by political exigencies rather than regulatory need, without any reference to the House or consultation with stakeholders. Under what circumstances does the Minister see those powers being used? Does he have examples from the current regulators, and what checks and balances are in place so that they are not abused?
Ben Bradshaw
Minister of State (Regional Affairs) (South West), The Minister of State, Department of Health
We agree that it is important that there should be a proper procedure for the Care Quality Commission to follow when it makes certain decisions about registering or deregistering a regulated activity or a manager, or about suspending registration or amending the conditions of registration. We have set out those procedures in clauses 22, 23 and 24.
Under Clause 22, in particular, we require the commission to give its reasons for such a decision in a written notice to the relevant registered providers or managers. We also agree that the public will want to be reassured that the commission has taken appropriate action where providers fail to meet requirements. We want the commission to publish information in relation to enforcement, but not in relation to some of the rather everyday activities of managing the conditions that it places on the registration of providers or managers. For example, registration conditions could change simply because a provider wished to provide a new service, or to cease to provide an existing service. Conditions can also change as a result of changes in premises or a change in staff. We believe that it would be unreasonably bureaucratic to require the commission to publish its reasons for making those changes in all those areas.
That is why we have made clear in clause 83 that regulations may allow or require the commission to publish information about the enforcement action it has taken. That is so that we can differentiate between enforcement action and routine administrative processes. We believe that extending the requirements in the way proposed in the amendments would be excessively burdensome and bureaucratic.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England and it is responsible for developing and consulting on its methodology for assessing whether providers are meeting the registration requirements.
Jimmy Hood
Labour, Lanark and Hamilton East