Part of Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:15 pm on 15 January 2008.
Stephen O'Brien
Shadow Minister (Health)
6:15,
15 January 2008
I beg to move Amendment No. 11, in Clause 14, page 6, line 34, at end insert—
‘(c) documented reasonable grounds for taking action have been laid before the board of the Commission.’.
Our amendment proposes to tack new paragraph (c) on to subsection (2), which states:
“Except where the Commission gives notice under section 27, the power conferred by subsection (1) is exercisable only on” the outlined grounds. The amendment would establish a clear audit trail that could be interrogated in the case of appeals. I am sure that the Minister will be the first to accept that that is an absolutely appropriate best practice, which is what we have all been trying to put in place for many years in the public and private sector and within the professions. Those in the professions are being considered here because they are providing a service on behalf of others. I cannot understate the importance of such an amendment.
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.
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.
