---

Health and Social Care Bill

I am very grateful to all Members of the Committee who have supported these amendments so eloquently and to the Minister for that extremely full reply. I have to admit that I shall need to read and concentrate on it fully in order to absorb the implications of the Government’s response. I think I heard the Minister say that something we proposed, which was supported, is of interest to him. I see some nodding coming from that quarter, so that raises my spirits a little. However, I do not quite understand why the Government find their own legislation so frightening. The Human Rights Act is not frightening at all. It just says that people are entitled to respect and dignity, to not be ill-treated and to be listened to and that things should be fair. It is not very demanding on resources and people do not find it difficult when they understand it. The people getting this service would rather be treated in that way, and the people giving the service would feel better about themselves and their professionalism if they gave the service like that. It is a gift. It is not something to run away from or to feel gets one into all sorts of difficulties. I hope that this very helpful debate will encourage the Minister to look at the Human Rights Act as a blessing, rather than as something fearful, and that we might at the next stage be able to secure a little more of what we hope will be in this Bill. With that enormous hope and with great gratitude to all those who have supported this amendment, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.