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Health and Social Care Bill

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for giving way before she advises the Grand Committee on what she would like to do. On my own two amendments, I think that the Minister’s replies were rather less convincing than some of her other replies have been. To use the word ““investigating”” in relation to the performance of a medical regulator is entirely appropriate. The CHRE can be tasked and is tasked with investigating the performance of the regulators. However, to say that it may investigate individual cases in support of that task is an unnecessary adherence to symmetry in the drafting, if I can put it that way. On Amendment No. 141, it seems to me that to say that, "““the Secretary of State may give directions to the Council as to the manner in which the Council exercises its functions””," is a very broad power of direction. I note what the noble Baroness has said about how that power might be used and that there is no sinister intent, but to give the example that Ministers may want to direct the council as to how it prioritises its workload is very odd. That can surely be done without the council being directed. I shall need to have further thoughts about both the amendments between now and Report, but of course I shall not press the amendments in Committee.