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Health Bill [HL]

My Lords, I require clarification about the current provisions for Monitor’s authority to deauthorise a trust and pass it back to the Secretary of State. We have heard several noble lords and the noble Baroness, Lady Murphy, a member of the board of Monitor, say specific things about the powers that Monitor has in regard to financial controls. The issue with mid-Staffordshire was not as much about financial control as about patients’ health and safety. If we can be reassured that Monitor has the powers currently to act on issues related to patient health and safety, to bring the trust into order and maybe even deauthorise it, then I would be content that these amendments are not necessary. I am persuaded by much of the argument made by the noble Earl, Lord Howe—it is difficult not to agree with his arguments as they are often so well studied—but one issue that concerns me is whether Monitor has the provisions currently to act solely on patient health and safety issues and not only financial issues.