Part of Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:45 pm on 24 January 2008.
Anne Milton
Shadow Minister (Health)
2:45,
24 January 2008
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point.
I will go back to the subject of over-zealous social services departments and problems relating to where people reside. I will give as an example an adult, perhaps with learning difficulties, who has been looked after by his parents, but who moves to another area because it is thought that he is able to manage on his own. For argument’s sake, let us say that he builds up social networks and lives there happily for ten years, but his situation then deteriorates and he needs care. He could find himself wrenched away from the area that he knows, has social contacts in, and has become used to, and having to return to where his parents live, but where he has not lived for ten years. I do not know whether the new Clause is necessary, but I would like the Minister to take on board the fact that the problem often arises because people get caught up in the crossfire of no one wanting to pay. That is what this comes down to.
Social services departments under pressure spend a huge amount of time and energy avoiding paying for things, but if they directed that attention and energy into just looking after people, they might save more than they are being required to spend on people’s care. It can be trying to watch, and extraordinarily stressful for the people involved.
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.
