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Health Bill

I was not going to intervene on this Motion that Clause 4 stands part. Indeed, I must apologise to the Grand Committee that, due to other commitments, I have been unable to attend sessions of the Grand Committee since 20 April. The noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, raised a subject that is not directly relevant to this particular Motion. He asked my noble friend Lord Naseby whether this was not a good opportunity to correct the record. I would like to ask the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, to do exactly the same. In Hansard on 20 April I said:"““It is truly amazing . . . that the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, can get up and say that all bets are off on a manifesto because there is a free vote””." Twice within the space of about six lines the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, said:"““I did not say that””.—[Official Report, 20/04/06; cols. GC 558-559.]" Those are the words exactly as printed in Hansard. It is only right that I draw the noble Lord’s attention, and, indeed, the Grand Committee’s attention, to another column of the same date—and I assume Hansard to be correct, but of course that may not be. However, the words in front of me from the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, read:"““If the House of Commons is given the opportunity to have a free vote, manifesto commitments do not apply to any Member who takes part in the vote—and I have had confirmation this afternoon from my noble friend from the Government Whips’ Office that all our votes . . . will . . . be free votes””.—[Official Report, 20/04/06; col. GC 555.]" That is what Hansard said. Perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester, would like to comment on that.