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Health and Social Care Bill

First, I thank noble Lords for their general support. At the moment, I am let loose only on things about which people agree. I agree that it is odd that those in the public sector were not registrants; the proposals address that. On the matter of charges, yes, there will be a real reduction in fees. The Hearing Aid Council is a very small organisation with about 1,700 registrants, 200 of which are employers. To fund the running of the council, it now charges registrants an annual fee of £695. The Health Professions Council, in contrast, regulates about 180,000 health professionals. It has significant resources at its disposal—vastly greater than the Hearing Aid Council—and charges its registrants £72 a year. I am sure that the Committee will appreciate that the difference in fees of more than £600 a year is not inconsiderable to the hearing aid profession. I was invited to assure the noble Baroness that the transition will take place this year. I have to disappoint her. It will be taken with all due speed, but the transition will be next year. I think that I am right to say that the target was April; we are doing our best to achieve that, but we will have to publish the Section 60 order, and of course we will want a proper 12-week consultation. Some of the noble Earl’s concerns are covered by a communications campaign jointly instigated by the HAC and the HPC aimed at all relevant stakeholders to ensure that they are all aware of the impending change. The HAC has begun working with the RNID, Hearing Concern, Citizens Advice and other consumer groups to ensure that the campaign reaches its intended audience. The HPC and HAC are already working out a plan for a smooth transition, and have been planning this for two years. I can write to noble Lords with more detail if that would be helpful. Finally, what about the workers? The Hearing Aid Council has a very small staff. The only full-time staff are three executive assistants and a modernisation and transfer manager. The chief executive, the registrar and the director of resources all work between one and two days a week, and the legal director works one and a half days a month. The council is working towards abolition in 2009, and any continuing uncertainty may affect staff retention. No staff are expected to transfer to the HPC, but we are confident that the two years of close co-operation with the HPC and the better protection will ensure that expertise is not lost. On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendment No. 133 not moved.]