[Miss Anne Begg in the Chair] — Primary Care Trusts

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 3:45 pm on 29 June 2006.

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Photo of Charlotte Atkins Charlotte Atkins Labour, Staffordshire Moorlands 3:45, 29 June 2006

As the hon. Gentleman hints, I think that it was complete self-interest. I do not think that it was a matter of reconfiguration only with respect to health matters. It was looking forward to a local government review, which was behind it.

The public consultation, which appeared to be a sham, was transformed into a far more transparent process. I am particularly grateful to Lord Warner, but some credit must also be given to the external panel. When I met him, he said that he viewed the external panel as a good, diverse body that represented a number of stakeholders in the NHS. The panel used its NHS experience to recognise that the approach that local stakeholders and local consultations brought to Ministers was right.