Part of Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 3:15 pm on 17 January 2008.
Stephen O'Brien
Shadow Minister (Health)
3:15,
17 January 2008
The Amendment seeks to enable the CQC to inspect independent health care, a point touched on earlier by others on other amendments. Amendments Nos. 40 and 41 amend Clause 67(4), which limits regulations under that clause to health and social care schemes paid for out of public funds only. The amendments seek to broaden it to all health and social care schemes and the clause makes provision for the commission to make arrangements with Ministers of the Crown to inspect health and social care facilities within their remit. The obvious example is health care provided through the defence budget. That is a useful example to have in mind. On amendment No. 39, we need to ask why the Bill limits the inspection to NHS bodies. On amendments Nos. 40 and 41, I understand that that is in regard to other Ministers of the Crown, It might be helpful if the Minister could outline which ones. I assume that they are the Defence and Foreign Ministers. Why is it limited to health care paid for out of public funds? Presumably, that has something to do with departmental budgets or allocations. That is the sum of the purpose of the amendments.
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.
