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Health Bill

The arguments advanced by the noble Earl, Lord Howe, in support of his Amendment No. 13 apply with even greater force to care homes and prisons, as, on average, people spend longer in care homes and prisons than they do in hospital. So Amendment No. 12, spoken to by the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, represents a serious challenge to human rights. Once again we can see a major split opening up between the liberal wing of the Liberal Democrats, as represented by the noble Lords, Lord Russell-Johnston and Lord Steel, and the illiberal wing of that party. It seems to put the splits in other parties totally into the shade.