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Health and Social Care Bill

My Lords, I apologise, in particular to the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, for arriving late—I was delayed on the way in. I want to make two points. First, I say gently to my noble friend Lady Howe that we have to remember that these establishments are people’s homes. Many people in them intensely dislike strangers, as they see them, coming in and out. I know that it is quite difficult to get volunteers to be consistent in their approach, having tried to do so in a number for which I am responsible in a different capacity. There are very real difficulties about engaging the public in what are quasi-inspections. Secondly, we are not accepting that the majority of our inspectors are highly professional and that most of the homes are extremely well run. However, that does not mean I do not accept that, from time to time, there are issues in particular homes. We should also look at the background of the making of the BBC programme, which has some interesting flaws. We have to be supportive of the staff who are carrying out the inspections and recognise that most providers are very keen to do a good job by the people for whom they are giving services. Again, I apologise once again for arriving late, but I particularly wanted to make those two points.