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Health and Social Care Bill

I wish to support this amendment, partly because I would hate my colleagues to think that they stood alone on this one—although if other noble Lords are going to speak, they are welcome. This reflects the debate that we have had time and again. I want to make some very small points. First, none of us speaking in this debate who are anxious about the changes are averse to change. My history is full of change management; it is what I do. It is when change lacks clarity that it is a problem—and the problem about this change goes back to the debate that we had several hours ago in this Room about objectives. I am still unclear about the objects and direction that this regulation is going to take, which is why I seriously support this amendment, because it would give clarity to outlining which way forward is going to be taken right at the beginning of a year. In any event I hope that by the end of the discussions on the Bill we have a clearer set of objectives, although that may not deny the need for this amendment. This amendment would give a little reassurance to the many people out there who are seriously concerned, because services are all about resources. Indeed, as we know, the Bill is all about resources. The resources will go to the strongest challenger unless the Bill contains something that says they must be balanced. That is why I support the amendment moved by the noble Earl, Lord Howe.