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Health and Social Care Bill

I want to make a quick comment, although I cannot comment on the case that has just been raised, because I do not know the details. I was a bit bemused by the amendment, because when we are talking about fitness-to-practise panel members referred to in the amendment—who are different from the specialist advisers who may give advice—there is a requirement for them to be independent. Indeed, we all have to pledge that before a case starts. That may need to be written in the document, but it is certainly the case at the moment. There may be a separate debate about professional clinical and legal advisers and the extent to which they have been involved in a previous role, but the panel members themselves are guaranteed to be independent. That is my understanding.