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Proceeding contribution from Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 22 November 2011. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Health and Social Care Bill.

Health and Social Care Bill

My Lords, the debate on the first group was instructive on the relationship between Parliament, the Secretary of State and the mandate that the Secretary of State sets for the NHS Commissioning Board. In our final exchange the noble Earl said that he was fearful of Parliament micromanaging the National Health Service. My fear is that that is shorthand for saying that Parliament may be told that it will no longer be able to ask detailed questions about the NHS because it is covered in the mandate. Whatever it may be, the mandate assumes critical importance since it lays out the objectives set for the NHS Commissioning Board by the Secretary of State. My amendment is not about micromanagement, it is about proper parliamentary scrutiny of what the Secretary of State has decided, and it sets out a well tried procedure. The final decision on the mandate will remain with the Secretary of State, but it will allow Parliament to undertake proper scrutiny. I beg to move. Division on Amendment 100A Contents 201; Not-Contents 220. Amendment 100A disagreed. Amendment 101 not moved. Amendment 101A not moved. Amendment 102 Moved by

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
732 c990 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Complaints Assets Costs Health Health services Land NHS Patients Ministerial powers Procurement Parliamentary scrutiny Standards Reform Monitor Care Quality Commission Local involvement networks NHS Commissioning Board Healthwatch England Clinical commissioning groups
Legislation
Health and Social Care Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk