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Health and Social Care Bill

This has been a helpful short debate. I thank in particular the noble Baroness, Lady Howarth, for her contribution. I recall for the Committee’s benefit her wonderful line at Second Reading that rationalised regulation is not necessarily rational regulation—a line I wish I had thought of and used myself. There is a superficial logic and a congruence in bringing children’s services all under the same umbrella—I would not argue with that—but we are beginning to learn that, if we are not careful, it can conceal some huge misalignments. The noble Baroness, Lady Howarth, was quite right in all that she said about methodologies. The key to getting the new body working as it should is that the methodologies should be distinct where they need to be. I thank the Minister for her reply. At this hour, it is appropriate that we move on. Clause 2 agreed to. [Amendments Nos. 27 and 28 not moved.] Clause 3 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to.