---

Older People's Rights (Health Care)

Thank you, Lady Winterton. I heard what the Minister said, but it is my understanding—I might be wrong—that we are talking about people who are self-funding, who might well be in the same environment as people who are publicly funded. The simple principle remains: I and many organisations believe that every individual, regardless of whether the home is public, private or voluntary, and regardless of whether they are publicly funded, part-publicly funded or privately funded, should be covered by the Human Rights Act. In the end, that is what I and older people's organisations want. I therefore welcome the helpful U-turn by the Government, who, following discussions with the Minister of State, are planning to bring forward an amendment on Second Reading in another place. First, will the Minister say whether the amendment will cover all four nations in the United Kingdom? We are aiming for universality, so any other measure will not do. Secondly, to return to our earlier discussion, will the amendment cover all care provision, including both self-funders and those who are publicly funded? Otherwise, we will continue to have a split. Perhaps the Minister will clarify those things when he makes his winding-up speech.