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Health Bill [HL]

I do not want to detain the Committee. I want to make a couple of points and, in particular, add my support to this incredibly important amendment. I was impressed by the contribution of the noble Earl, Lord Howe. It seems to me that we have a win-win situation here. I do not altogether accept that we cannot expand capacity. The foundation trusts, in general, build up considerable cash reserves and the capacity to borrow for capital projects. In the years ahead, however, after the following two years, there will be the most incredible squeeze on resources in the National Heath Service for revenue for ongoing expenditure. The Department of Heath probably cannot afford not to have the amendment, or something rather similar to it. We will be unable to spend at the same level as we have in the past. Here we have a possibility of improving the quality of services for severely injured or unwell people—of course, we all want to see that—while cutting the overall revenue spend, so I hope that the Minister will be able to support the amendment. My final point is about bed occupancy. In mental health, we have always worked to 100 per cent bed occupancy and under government targets, we are being driven to a lower level: 85 per cent bed occupancy. I find it hard to imagine that other bits of the NHS are driving bed occupancy up to 100 per cent, so I hope the department can clarify that point because it is extraordinarily important.