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Health and Social Care Bill

Like the noble Earl, Lord Howe, I cannot see the logic behind the proposition, but I want to turn to another aspect—the question of care homes. Clause 30 refers to persons, managers and a £50,000 fine. I know that I missed part of a Sitting the other day, and this may have been dealt with then, but what is the process? If a warning is given, but does not have any effect, urgent action is taken. Does the care home close? Does it stop trading? Does someone else move in? Who pays the fine? In the event that the fine is paid, is not the maximum a rather small amount when fees are generally around £1,000 a week? One week’s take in a home with a reasonable number of beds would cover the fine. It seems that people could prolong this process. Perhaps I am missing something in the Bill, but one would think that there would be a way of directly intervening to ensure that there could be no harm; the conditions and the problems are dealt with; the management is changed; and, most importantly, that the people living there are not disrupted, which has to be a major consideration. The £50,000 fine seems out of proportion to the problem being dealt with.