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Health and Social Care Bill

I am advised by colleagues that this is a pretty unprecedented moment. Amendment No. 153 would make the wording of paragraph 2(b) more consistent with that in paragraph 8(3)(a), which refers to, "““keeping the register of social care workers of any description””." The amendment does not, in the Government’s view, affect the substance of paragraph 2(b) of Schedule 9, but we recognise that the suggested drafting will make it consistent with the drafting of paragraph 8(3)(a) and with Section 56(1)(b) of the Care Standards Act 2000. This is a sensible drafting amendment and it will help to ensure that the Bill is consistent in its terminology. I therefore accept it and the amendment will be included in the next reprint of the Bill. I thank the noble Earl, Lord Howe, and the noble Baroness, Lady Cumberlege, for identifying this helpful improvement to the Bill. Although not strictly related to the amendment, I also take the opportunity to place on the record, for the benefit of the General Social Care Council, a reassurance about the extent of the powers in Clause 118 and Schedule 9. The General Social Care Council has been concerned about whether these powers would allow the removal of its core functions, such as the function of deciding whether to grant or refuse registration. I am happy to provide reassurance that the new powers will not allow us to remove any of the council’s core functions.