To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on (a) doctors and (b) other qualified medical personnel administering pain-relieving drugs which may shorten lives; and whether regulations on that issue changed after the conviction of Harold Shipman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on (a) doctors and (b) other qualified medical personnel administering pain-relieving drugs which may shorten lives; and whether regulations on that issue changed after the conviction of Harold Shipman.

Westminster Hall debate on a motion for the adjournment on the Shipman Inquiry.

Westminster Hall debate on a motion for the adjournment on the Shipman Inquiry.

Yes, I agree. The package of reform that we introduced in February does retain the system of independent self-regulation and suggests a parity between lay and professional representation within the main regulatory bodies and that those appointees should be independently appointed. It is important to ensure that the public have...

Yes, I agree. The package of reform that we introduced in February does retain the system of independent self-regulation and suggests a parity between lay and professional representation within the main regulatory bodies and that those appointees should be independently appointed. It is important to ensure that the public have...

I welcome the way in which the Minister has introduced the topic. May I explore an issue with him? He maintained that doctors are more trusted than most other groups, and I certainly agree with that. The point that I would like him to address is that they are still...

I welcome the way in which the Minister has introduced the topic. May I explore an issue with him? He maintained that doctors are more trusted than most other groups, and I certainly agree with that. The point that I would like him to address is that they are still...

I am pleased that we have been able to secure time this afternoon to debate the findings of the Shipman inquiry, which dealt with a matter of huge significance that has far-reaching ramifications for several Government Departments and which raised matters of great horror for the families who were affected...

I am pleased that we have been able to secure time this afternoon to debate the findings of the Shipman inquiry, which dealt with a matter of huge significance that has far-reaching ramifications for several Government Departments and which raised matters of great horror for the families who were affected...

I share the gratitude of our colleague, the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris), for the manner in which the Minister is introducing the debate. As we are establishing the principles that we should apply, does he agree that the enormity of what Harold Shipman did and...

I share the gratitude of our colleague, the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris), for the manner in which the Minister is introducing the debate. As we are establishing the principles that we should apply, does he agree that the enormity of what Harold Shipman did and...

I agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman. The guiding principle of every measure that has been and will be introduced—there is, of course, some considerable way to go before we have done full justice to this hugely significant inquiry—is the protection of patients and the public. All the measures that...

I agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman. The guiding principle of every measure that has been and will be introduced—there is, of course, some considerable way to go before we have done full justice to this hugely significant inquiry—is the protection of patients and the public. All the measures that...

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on behalf of my constituents in Calder Valley and those of the Minister for Pensions Reform, my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell), who, as you pointed out, Mr. Hancock, is in the Chamber but may not speak...

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on behalf of my constituents in Calder Valley and those of the Minister for Pensions Reform, my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell), who, as you pointed out, Mr. Hancock, is in the Chamber but may not speak...

It is a privilege to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Chris McCafferty). She and the Minister for Pensions Reform, my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell), have been at the forefront of the campaign for justice for Dr. Harold Shipman’s victims. I...

It is a privilege to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Calder Valley (Chris McCafferty). She and the Minister for Pensions Reform, my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell), have been at the forefront of the campaign for justice for Dr. Harold Shipman’s victims. I...

I agree entirely that that is what we need to create. The systems that we are describing should transcend all organisational boundaries and apply right across the piece. Different organisations will seek to achieve the same ends in different ways, but the principles should transcend organisational boundaries and apply equally...

I agree entirely that that is what we need to create. The systems that we are describing should transcend all organisational boundaries and apply right across the piece. Different organisations will seek to achieve the same ends in different ways, but the principles should transcend organisational boundaries and apply equally...

I take the point made by the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon. It was, perhaps, inadvisable of me to suggest that that label could be applied to the Bill. I was seeking to make a point about the breadth and depth of the reports from Dame Janet Smith’s...

I take the point made by the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon. It was, perhaps, inadvisable of me to suggest that that label could be applied to the Bill. I was seeking to make a point about the breadth and depth of the reports from Dame Janet Smith’s...

I am prompted to intervene by the Minister’s remark about the relationship between professional regulation and clinical governance among NHS employers. If I recall correctly—I do not have the quotation to hand—Dame Janet Smith was clear about the desirability of ensuring that we did not rely excessively on NHS clinical...

I am prompted to intervene by the Minister’s remark about the relationship between professional regulation and clinical governance among NHS employers. If I recall correctly—I do not have the quotation to hand—Dame Janet Smith was clear about the desirability of ensuring that we did not rely excessively on NHS clinical...

Dr. Harris.

Dr. Harris.

It is important that I say that I do not agree with the point that Government regulation is being proposed. We are proposing to maintain the system of professional self-regulation. It is as a result of the counsel of the regulators that we are proposing parity between the professional and...

It is important that I say that I do not agree with the point that Government regulation is being proposed. We are proposing to maintain the system of professional self-regulation. It is as a result of the counsel of the regulators that we are proposing parity between the professional and...

I was shocked that you had even made a mistake, Mr. Hancock, such is your reputation for accuracy. I certainly did not take it personally. I hope that you do not mind me not taking it personally if you misaddress me, because I know that you are a perfectionist in...

I was shocked that you had even made a mistake, Mr. Hancock, such is your reputation for accuracy. I certainly did not take it personally. I hope that you do not mind me not taking it personally if you misaddress me, because I know that you are a perfectionist in...

Or two Bills.

Or two Bills.

In July.

In July.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that. The Committee talked about the importance of the system of death certification, and, because of the interrelationship between the coroners’ system and that for death certification, to which recommendations 5 and 6 of the report apply, asked the Government to come back to...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that. The Committee talked about the importance of the system of death certification, and, because of the interrelationship between the coroners’ system and that for death certification, to which recommendations 5 and 6 of the report apply, asked the Government to come back to...

I do not want to intrude on the private grief of Departments trying to resolve these matters between themselves, but I have a question. I am not clear about the extent to which some aspects of reform, such as the establishment of medical examiners in primary care trusts, which clearly...

I do not want to intrude on the private grief of Departments trying to resolve these matters between themselves, but I have a question. I am not clear about the extent to which some aspects of reform, such as the establishment of medical examiners in primary care trusts, which clearly...

The hon. Gentleman will accept that these matters are extremely complex and of huge import for everybody—for the whole of society. I hope—speaking openly, for once—that we might have a Bill at the end of this process. It would be wrong to call it the Shipman Bill, but it would...

The hon. Gentleman will accept that these matters are extremely complex and of huge import for everybody—for the whole of society. I hope—speaking openly, for once—that we might have a Bill at the end of this process. It would be wrong to call it the Shipman Bill, but it would...