Part of Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 3:30 pm on 17 January 2008.
Ben Bradshaw
Minister of State (Regional Affairs) (South West), The Minister of State, Department of Health
3:30,
17 January 2008
I simply reiterate what I said earlier. The CQC will be completely unfettered in its decisions to undertake reviews in the circumstances that I described.
The Amendment would not have any practical effect, because the Secretary of State has no power to prevent the commission from conducting reviews. The amendment seems to refer to the requirement for the CQC to publish in advance its work programme for the more general reviews that it intends to undertake during a specific period. That is a sensible requirement, not least because that way, the organisations concerned will have some idea about the CQC’s work programme. It can formalise its business planning processes—an exercise that already takes place under the existing system to help managers administer burdens of regulation on front-line service providers. The requirement to consult will also ensure dialogue between the commission and the Secretary of State. However and as I have made absolutely clear, important, urgent reviews—or those that the CQC considers urgent in fulfilling its duty on quality and safety—would be completely unfettered and could be undertaken without consultation with anyone.
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