Lords’ Health Bill challenge fails

pharmafile | October 12, 2011 | News story | |  NHS reform 

The government’s NHS reforms have survived a challenge in the House of Lords that have delayed them until the next Parliament.

Peers voted 330 to 262 to defeat an amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill that would have seen it sent to a select committee to have its clauses on competition further scrutinised.

Conservative health minister Lord Howe said that any delay to the Bill would have ‘proved fatal’, and will be relieved that its passage to royal assent will now be much smoother.

In his speech to Peers Lord Owen, who had tabled the amendment, said he was not looking for a “delaying tactic”, but rather the best way of further scrutinising a “defective Bill”.

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He said he still has concerns over the role of competition in the NHS, and questioned the constitutional right of the health secretary Andrew Lansley to delegate his powers on the health service.

The Peers also voted 354 to 220 against another amendment from Labour peer – and former GP – Lord Rea which could have killed of the Bill completely.

The Bill will now be sent for a second reading in the House of Lords, and is still on track to be signed into law next year.

Ben Adams

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