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National Insurance Contributions Bill

That was the shadow Chancellor's position then, but I believe that a few days earlier he had said that there was"““no logic, sense or rationality””" to the policy. If he has changed his position, Government Members would welcome that. The Prime Minister—my ““big boss””, as the shadow Health Secretary has described him—has said that we are"““confident that we will fulfil our goal of real-terms increases every year in the NHS.””—[Official Report, 15 December 2010; Vol. 520, c. 902.]" That will occur, regardless of whether any amendment such as that proposed by the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne is included in the Bill; this is a matter of spending and this mechanism is not terribly helpful. Given those comments, I hope that he will withdraw the amendment, although I am not optimistic.