HC Deb 19 March 2003 vol 401 cc1029-48

Lords amendment: No. 24.

Jacqui Smith

I beg to move, That this House disagrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst)

With this it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendment No. 25 and Government motion to disagree thereto.

Jacqui Smith

The amendments would impose a permanent statutory duty on inspection bodies to monitor the impact of the Bill on patients and carers, and a permanent statutory duty on the Secretary of State to report annually to Parliament. The implication seems to be that health and social care professionals will irresponsibly discharge patients with inappropriate care packages, but we do not believe that this will be the case. Of course, they will also duplicate safeguards and inspection mechanisms already in place, and will jeopardise the independence of those that are planned.

NHS and local authorities should, of course, already monitor the quality and effectiveness of their discharge arrangements, which are subject to the normal performance management, performance assessment and monitoring and inspection arrangements. Current inspection bodies already monitor the quality of discharge arrangements and the effect on patients and carers as part of their normal inspection and monitoring activities. For example, the social services inspectorate monitors the quality of services to older people. 'This will include the achievement of national priorities and targets—including the proportion of those helped to live at home, compared with residential care—as well as local improvement plans. As part of that, it will of course look at the quality of community support following discharge from hospital. It will also question the balance between investment in services and the amount spent on reimbursement charges.

In a similar way, when the Commission for Health Improvement reviews clinical governance arrangements within a hospital, it covers planning of patients' entire hospital stay and their discharge. That is an important part of its review methodology. Of course, where a combination of performance indicators and inspection points to particular problems in a given area, the inspection bodies and, ultimately, the Secretary of State have an escalating power to intervene, and to ensure that action is taken to improve outcomes and performance.

As hon. Members know, we have introduced legislation to establish two new health and social care inspectorates: the Commission for Health Care Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection. We have already stressed that those bodies will strengthen the accountability of those responsible for the commissioning and delivery of health and social services, and an important part of this role will be for both inspectorates to report annually to Parliament on the provision of NHS and social care. However, we have also stressed their independence from the Department, so although they will agree priorities with the Department, it would not be appropriate for detailed instructions such as those proposed in the amendments to pass from the Secretary of State to the inspectorate concerning the details and the frequency with which they need to inspect particular elements of older people's services.

We do not believe, therefore, that it is necessary or appropriate to impose that permanent and specific statutory duty on the inspection bodies to monitor the effects of this Bill, or to impose a duty on the Secretary of State to report every year to Parliament specifically on the Bill's effect.

Mr. Burns

I should say at the outset that I am very disappointed with the Minister's assessment of, and views on, two very valuable and important amendments for the raising and maintaining of standards. This Government have rightly—I am not criticising them—always maintained that patients, the NHS itself and the professionals who work in it should attain the highest possible standards, and that the quality of care should be of the highest level. I can assure the Minister that I do not disagree with her one iota on that important issue. As constituency MPs, we owe that to those of our constituents who may use the national health service, and to the NHS itself because of the professionals who work within it. What surprises me is that the Minister, by rejecting the amendments, does not seem to share our enthusiasm for ensuring the highest quality and standards in all areas of the NHS.

For example, Lords amendment No. 24, notwithstanding he Minister's comments, seems eminently reasonable. It asks that The Secretary of State shall specify to the bodies charged with inspection of health and social services that they should monitor, at regular intervals, the impact of this Act on patients and their carers. On the face of it, that seems to be a welcome added benefit to health and social care. So that the Minister fully appreciates the intention behind the specification that the Secretary of State would be expected to make, I confirm that the bodies that would be charged with the responsibility would be the Audit Commission, CHI—and its successor, if and when other legislation is introduced—and the social services inspectorate.

The Government have been in power for six years now, during which time they have taken a perverse pleasure in examining every nook and cranny of our national life. They have not been averse to increasing bureaucracy, but when the other place makes an eminently sensible suggestion to ensure that standards are maintained, they—somewhat churlishly on this occasion—reject it, Under the Bill, the patient should be the most important: part of the equation of the provision of health care, but the pressures that will be placed on social services by the fines system will mean that the patient will be the piggy in the middle, caught between the NHS and local authority social services departments.

Mr. Greg Knight (East Yorkshire)

My hon. Friend is making an effective case and demolishing the Minister's arguments. Is not the Minister wrong when she says that the amendments imply that some sort of wrongdoing is likely to take place? The words added by the other place refer to monitoring and to reporting back to Parliament and, in a democracy, that is eminently sensible and desirable.

Mr. Burns

I am indebted to my right hon. Friend. Perspicacious as ever, he has anticipated a point that I was about to make. In all candour, I was surprised and shocked by that comment from the Minister, because it was unfair. Nothing in any amendment to health legislation that I have supported has ever criticised or cast doubt on the huge professionalism of the staff at all levels of the NHS. It perplexed me, listening to the Minister, and I carefully read the words again in case the other place had—uncharacteristically—slipped up. I could not see that it had, and I am sure that the Minister will wish to rectify her comments later.

Mr. Waterson

I shall try to be charitable to the Minister and suggest that she and my hon. Friend are simply and genuinely at cross-purposes. When the Minister talks about the existing inspection and audit regime, that is fine, but we are talking about a Bill that may have all sorts of unintended consequences. If those consequences are undesirable—because, in the real world, it is just possible that the Minister could be wrong about the Bill—the sooner that we identify by specific audit any national trend that suggests that, the better for all of us.

Mr. Burns

My hon. Friend has made an important point, and he is right. We must ensure that we get the legislation right at this stage. I must say that I took umbrage at one point in my hon. Friend's intervention when he suggested—unless I misheard him—that the Minister was at cross-purposes with me because she wanted the best in this legislation. I find that difficult to reconcile in one respect. How can the Minister want the best for the Bill when she is bringing in a rather nasty system of fines on local authorities? That does not equal wanting the very best from the Bill. The Bill will do exactly the opposite of providing the very best.

Before those helpful interventions, I was saying that the Bill will mean that patients become caught, like piggy in the middle, between the NHS and local authorities. That will happen because the Bill will pressure authorities to discharge patients to avoid a fine. I am sure that the Minister does not want patients to suffer in any way. She is talking to her silent Whip at the moment; if she were listening to me, she would be able to hear what I want to tell her in all sincerity. However, she is clearly not listening and will therefore have to read Hansard.

Jacqui Smith

I have heard it all before.

Mr. Burns

The Minister says that she has heard it all before, which is odd, as I have not presented this amendment before. It has come from another place, where common sense has prevailed and caused the Government to suffer a defeat. The Opposition in this House are trying to save the Government from making another mistake in overturning the amendment.

Before that rather cruel intervention—the Minister cannot have heard my speech before—I was saying that it is important that patients do not suffer. I am sure that the Minister agrees with that. However, the Bill could cause them to suffer as a result of the possible early discharge from hospital to residential care or to domiciliary care in their own homes. That discharge could happen because local authorities want to avoid fines. The result could be emergency readmissions, or an unacceptable level of readmissions to hospital, within a seven to 28-day time scale.

In an earlier debate, I set out the rising incidence of emergency readmissions to hospital among people aged over 75. The statistics show that there is a problem, and I argued that it could be exacerbated by the Bill. Amendment No. 24 would help to minimise that potential problem.

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Similarly, in the rush to avoid a fine, patients could be discharged into inappropriate care, or into the least appropriate care. No one wants that to happen, but it may be an unfortunate consequence of the possibility that local authorities could be fined. Alternatively, patients could be discharged to their own homes without adequate support services from either the NHS or the local authority social services department. Carers could suffer because undue burdens are placed on them when patients are discharged—by local authorities wishing to avoid being fined—without the support of a proper and comprehensive care package.

Amendment No. 24 would alleviate those potential problems. It would allow the situation to be monitored, as reports would be made to local authorities and the NHS. In that way, the problems that could arise would be minimised. For that reason, the Minister got it wrong when she criticised the amendment in her opening comments. She should think again.

Amendment No. 25 is eminently sensible. It would straightforwardly require the Secretary of State to report annually to Parliament on the outcomes of patients affected by the provisions in the Bill. I should have thought that the Government would warmly welcome that. Certainly, in opposition, they were strong proponents of open government. We have heard the rhetoric—they have talked the talk, but they do not often walk the walk—that people should be empowered with information and knowledge. The amendment represents a classic example of that. It is justifiable that Parliament—which will, if the Government get their way, pass this unpleasant Bill—should be made aware of the outcome of the legislation that it passes. That is not an unreasonable requirement, and I should have thought that the Government, in the spirit of open government and empowering people with information, would be prepared to accept it.

There may be an overriding reason why the Government do not want the Secretary of State to be required to report annually to Parliament on the outcomes of patients affected by the legislation. Perhaps, in their heart of hearts, they accept the arguments that my right hon. and hon. Friends and I, as well as the Liberal Democrats, have been making for many months—that the Bill is counterproductive and highly damaging, that it will destroy partnership working between the health service and local authorities, and that it will have an adverse impact on patients because it will increase pressures on the early discharge of patients, especially elderly patients over the age of 75. As is shown by the statistics that the Government have produced in recent months, those pressures have led to a rising level of emergency readmissions. In fact, it is probably the case that the Government do not oppose the principle of amendment No. 25, but fear its consequences, in that it would annually reveal to Parliament the failings of the legislation. Moreover, it would show how right the Opposition have been to oppose the Bill root and branch and how misguided Ministers and their followers on the Back Benches have been to press ahead with it in defiance of all the evidence that it is not a good piece of legislation.

Mr. Greg Knight

is not there another argument that the Minister might find more attractive—that is, that if the legislation works well, members of the Government would have an annual opportunity to come to this House to say so?

Mr. Burns

My right hon. Friend makes an interesting point. He knows as well as I do that some members of the Government are not as keen on coming to this place as others. In some cases, the amendment could represent an opportunity to ensure that they are here, and it could become an annual visit, so it has that extra potential benefit.

I hope that the Minister will, in the spirit of maintaining the highest possible standards and of open government, be minded to think again. I am not confident about that, but perhaps I can encourage her by saying that I will ask at the appropriate moment to divide the House on amendments Nos. 24 and 25.

Mr. Burstow

I support the amendments because it is appropriate to ask the various inspection agencies covering health and social care now and in future to monitor the implementation of the legislation, and, not least, because the Minister has been unable to answer several questions in the course of the debate, and by monitoring the situation closely we might begin to get some of those answers. Earlier, I referred to the National Audit Office report—and specifically to the accuracy of data that were being supplied on the numbers of people who are suffering delays in their discharge. I was a little disappointed that the Minister was unable to cast any light on Government actions in response to the NAO's findings and was unable to say whether the Government accepted the NAO's conclusion that there were difficulties that would impact on the Government's ability to implement the system of fines that the Bill would introduce. More than four out of every 10 NHS bodies that are responsible for submitting data on the numbers of people who are experiencing delays appear not to be following the Government's definitions. That is a problem.

However, it is not only what the NAO is saying that causes concern. Not surprisingly, local authorities, in partnership with their local NHS, are trying to test how the system would work. A colleague of mine from a metropolitan authority in the midlands told me: There is also a problem over definitions (there almost always has been but local work had, we thought, given … agreed definitions). A recent batch of 9 discharges from a local hospital went through a trial run to see what the results of the delayed discharge scheme would be, and the social services department thought they had agreement that only one of the discharges would count for the purposes of the fine system. However, when the department went back to the NHS trust, the trust declared that nine would be counted as delayed under the legislation. That was clearly a trial exercise to see what would happen, but it bears on the issue of clarity of definition. That clarity is still not in the Bill. The NAO has raised concerns about that.

Another issue that I hope will be contained in an annual report to Parliament, and that certainly ought to be subject to monitoring by the Commission for Health Improvement and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, is the interface between health and housing and social care. From 1 April, the supporting people programme will be rolled out across the country. Large amounts of money will be reorganised and distributed by local authorities to pay for supporting people in their own homes and in settings such as sheltered accommodation. However, I was surprised to learn recently that guidance on how the supporting people programme fits with the single assessment process—guidance that one would have thought should have been provided by now to local authorities—has not even begun to be written. The group that will do that work has not even been called together. It would therefore seem appropriate to have in the Bill a measure to enable agencies such as the Commission for Social Care Inspection to consider how the intersection between the single assessment process and the supporting people programme works.

One cause of dispute in the Chamber and in Committee, relating to whether this Bill can be implemented effectively, can be examined. It is the shortage of specialist staff. The NAO report found that two groups in particular—social workers and therapists—are in short supply. It was not only social services departments that foresaw a problem; it was the overwhelming view of primary care trusts that such shortages would continue to hamper dealing with issues of delayed discharge.

I have one final question for the Minister, and I feel that this amendment could allow this issue to be monitored. It concerns the dividing line between what is NHS-funded continuing long-term care and what are NHS part-funded registered nursing care contributions—also called free nursing care. I have raised a concern with the Minister and others on a number of occasions. The criteria for the highest band of registered nurse contributions are setting a threshold that requires a higher and more complex level of need than the eligibility criteria for fully funded NHS continuing care. It would be useful for that to be looked at.

The nursing care practice guide and workbook states: People with high needs for registered nursing care will have complex needs that require frequent medical, technical and/or therapeutic intervention. They will need frequent intervention and re-assessment by a registered nurse throughout a 24 hour period and their physical/mental health state will be unpredictable. That is the definition used to enable a nurse to determine whether someone is in the top band and will receive a contribution of £110 towards their nursing care in a nursing home.

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The case studies in the workbook are examples that help nurses to apply the guidance meaningfully. However, it is interesting to compare them with the health ombudsman's report, which deals with real cases. The workbook stated that a woman who had suffered a cerebrovascular accident—CVA—would be placed in the highest band of nursing because she had suffered loss of speech and was unable to swallow; partial paralysis and poor balance and co—ordination, doubly incontinent, pressure sore and tearful and distressed. She requires peg feeding and enemas to maintain bowel function, the use of a hoist to ensure safe transfer, and monitoring of the pressure sore, teaching to improve sitting balance, review of need for anti-depressant therapy and work to maintain social interaction. The amendment should include provision for the inspectorate to examine such cases because the health service ombudsman found that peg feeding was a criterion for continuing NHS care in one authority but not in another. In one case, the ombudsman's report helpfully listed Mrs. N's needs. They were a hoist to help with transfers, a … catheter in place to deal with her incontinence of urine and assistance with her bowel function every three to four days; changing position to maintain skin viability, help with washing and oral care, and peg feeding. She did not appear to be depressed but smiled in response to other people. Those cases are similar, yet in one, used as an example, the person was entitled only to a contribution of £110 towards their nursing while in the other—a real case cited in the health service ombudsman's report—the person was entitled to have all their care met and paid for by the national health service. The Department's case study guidance is issued to nurses whose job is to make those systems work and it ought to lead to the conclusion that people are entitled to continuing NHS care funding.

Will the Minister comment on that? More important, I hope that we do not have to rely only on the health service ombudsman to resolve, on a case-by-case basis, the problem of the dividing line between free continuing NHS care and nursing contributions. The Government should take the opportunity provided by the health service ombudsman's report to clarify the situation so that we stop the injustice that is undoubtedly being done to thousands of people who are being denied their rights.

Mr. Waterson

I am extremely puzzled by the attitude of the Minister and the Government to these perfectly sensible and appropriate amendments. Lords amendment No. 24 would specify bodies that will monitor the impact of the measure at regular intervals and Lords amendment No. 25 provides for an annual report to Parliament. As my right hon. Friend the Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight) pointed out, such a report might give the Government the chance to trumpet the success of the legislation. I seem to recall that the Government used to issue an annual report to trumpet their achievements, but that practice seemed to fall into disuse two or three years ago—presumably because there was not much to trumpet.

I urge the Minister to think again about the amendment. I appreciate why she might be feeling defensive about the measure; as we have already established, the Bill does not have a friend in the world. Even some of the Government's Back Benchers, including the Chairman of the Select Committee on Health, are not willing to support it. It has caused a storm of protest throughout the country, expressed through the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Social Services and so on.

The Minister seems to think that the amendment will wreak a huge sea change in the position. Indeed, her thesis, which seems to go further away from reality, is that the mere threat of the Bill has enormously improved the bed-blocking position and that it will make a vast difference and improve the lives of many hundreds of thousands of patients throughout the country. She may be right. If she is, fine, but I do not think that she is. Equally, the Opposition and various bodies may well be right, and the law of unintended consequences will kick in and set at odds with one another some of the agencies that, certainly in my constituency, are now working in much closer partnership than they ever did before.

I pay tribute to East Sussex county council for its work in the past year or two, since it has been run by the Conservatives, who have got to grips with the issue and worked closely with the health organisations. Although there are occasional blips, the result is a steady decline in the number of beds blocked or delayed discharges.

I concede that the truth may turn out to be somewhere between those two views. However, on any assessment, this is a brand new regime with some pretty draconian powers, and it could all go horribly wrong or, at the very least, not produce the results that the Minister wants, so I fail to understand why she does not think that monitoring its progress is a good idea. There may be some scope for discussing whether that duty should arise only in the initial stages of its implementation. I can understand the Minister's argument that that should not happen every year, for ever, if the legislation has settled down or, even more likely, the problem has gone away of its own accord.

In the debate in the other place, Baroness Noakes said that, under the current arrangements, the bodies involved would be the Audit Commission, the Commission for Health Improvement and the social services inspectorate, and she put it extremely well. Of course we have heard that, yet again, some of those bodies are in a state of flux, and we will end up with something called the Commission for Health Care Audit and Inspection. Whatever label is attached to those bodies, if legitimate concerns are felt not just by the official Opposition or the Liberal Democrats, but by lots of people at the coalface throughout the country who deal with such problems daily, it is surely important that we should get an idea early on whether the provisions are having the effect that the Minister thinks that they should. Surely, she, more than anyone else, would wish to know whether that was the case.

If I may give the Minister a bit of friendly advice, I do not think that she should associate herself too closely with the Bill or she may turn into another Minister who never was, like Lord Hunt who used to deal with such matters in the other place.

The Bill's effects will need careful examination in the real world. We have heard about some of the problems. Baroness Noakes referred to some of them in the other place, and my hon. Friend the Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) has dealt with the problem of readmission, so I need not do so. It is possible that people will be discharged home without adequate support services, and there is a whole series of possible knock-on effects, simply because of this ill-thought-out, hurried Bill.

It is worth quoting what the Right Rev. Bishop of Hereford said in the other place. He referred to what he called the widespread feeling that patients are treated … as commodities."—[Official Report, House of Lords, 17 February 2003; Vol. 644, c. 975.] Other hon. Members and I have expressed that view in earlier debates on the Bill. That is the nub of the problem. The Opposition and many other people are worried that patients and their needs are not central to the Bill and that they will be pushed aside in the interests of what I have already called this bizarre game of pass the parcel. Let us stop using the words "fines" and "incentives". I shall say that the Bill has financial repercussions—that may make the Minister happy—if people are holding the parcel when the music stops.

There will be some serious, hard cases in the real world, affecting our constituents, as well as those of the Minister and other hon. Members, so why on earth does not the Minister want to reassure people? Of course she takes the view that the rest of the world is out of step and that she is the only one in step, but if she is so utterly convinced of her rectitude, why not put it to the test? As my right hon. Friend the Member for East Yorkshire has already said, if there is good news to tell, let her blazon it in the House with an annual report and let it be reported on and authenticated by those audit bodies.

I could not agree more with the comment that Baroness Noakes made in last month's debate: the Bill … tends to marginalise the individuals who are at the heart of the processes."—[Official Report, House of Lords, 18 February 2003; Vol. 644, c. 1029.] That has been and will continue to be our fear about the Bill. We are happy and willing to be proved wrong. Surely, the way to ensure that that happens is to use one or more of the sort of bodies that are so beloved of the Government to audit progress, see whether the legislation is working and report annually to Parliament. I cannot see the Minister's problem, as by accepting the amendments—if she will only leave them alone, they are already part of the Bill—she can at a stroke prove us all wrong and prove that hers is the lonely voice that has been right all along.

I hope that the House will support the Lords in their amendments and maintain them in the Bill.

Mr. Greg Knight

We have just heard three very powerful speeches explaining why the Minister is wrong on the issue with which the amendments deal but not one voice raised in support from the Labour Benches.

The Minister's opening remarks sounded rather half-hearted and certainly showed a paucity of reason. We are disappointed by her attitude to the amendments because we had a debate yesterday in which the Opposition were prepared to take a non-partisan approach on a very important issue and say that, where we thought that the Government and the Prime Minister in particular were right, they had our support. All that we are asking her to do is listen to our arguments and reflect on what she will say in advising the House about how to treat the proposed additions to the Bill. What are we seeking to do? We are seeking to say that proposals that are moderate, modest and reasonable should remain in the Bill.

Amendment No. 24 states: The Secretary of State shall specify to the bodies charged with inspection of health and social services that they should monitor". The word "monitor" was put into the Bill by the other place, and it does not carry with it any of the implications to which the Minister referred in relation to a presumption of wrongdoing. The monitoring process would occur "at regular intervals". If the Minister were willing to reflect on the matter again, I would be happy to accept that regular intervals do not need to involve continual monitoring, but could entail annual monitoring or even a biannual process. Surely, however, it is right to see that best practice is being followed and that it is consistent throughout the United Kingdom.

I cannot understand why the Minister is not willing to accept Lords amendment No. 25. As you will be well aware, Mr. Deputy Speaker, it used to be said in the days of the previous Conservative Government that there was terrible pressure on parliamentary time and that it was not possible always to accommodate debates on every single issue that hon. Members felt was important. However, there has been a change in our procedures since that time—the addition of Westminster Hall. Although the former Leader of the House, who has just resigned his position, and his predecessor both gave an undertaking to the official Opposition that Westminster Hall would not be used for introducing legislation, there is consensus in all parts of the House that it could and should be used for debates on annual reports such as the one in question. In the light of the fact that we now have that other Chamber a stone's throw away from this place, I am at a loss to understand why the Minister will not accept the amendment.

Mr. Burns

My right hon. Friend touches on an extremely important point. He is as aware as I am that Westminster Hall is already used to debate Select Committee reports, so the precedent exists and the powerful suggestion that he is making would dovetail with what already happens in our proceedings.

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Mr. Knight

I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend. An annual report does not have to be debated every year. If an annual report was good but was deemed to contain nothing exciting or worthy of criticism, then the usual channels could produce a system in which a debate did not have to occur every year. Clearly, cost is not an issue because the Minister did not mention it. I was apprehensive that she might argue that she did not want the amendments because of the cost to the Exchequer, but that does not seem to be a problem. I hope that she will think again. I say to her: be bold, be reckless and, in the light of the powerful arguments adduced in the debate, allow the amendments to stand.

Jacqui Smith

With the leave of the House, I shall respond to the debate.

Hon. Members suggested that a monitoring and reporting system is not in place to ensure that the good outcomes produced by the Bill will be clearly monitored. However, I outlined a variety of ways—I do not intend to repeat them—in which that will be ensured. I think that the amendments are otiose and that it can be argued that they will have a detrimental effect on the inspection bodies that will be established.

Having feigned indignation when I suggested that the amendments were proposed on the assumption that the health and social care services might not operate in the best interests of patients, the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) then gave a string of ways in which the system might indeed not operate in the best interests of patients. I reassure him that monitoring is in place to ensure that that does not happen. The NHS and social care performance indicators, introduced by the Government to ensure greater accountability of the performance of the NHS and social care services, already include delayed discharges, emergency readmissions and home care to help people live at home. We are also introducing indicators on the speed of service provision. Those will show when substantial problems arise.

Hon. Members also asked about debating annual reports that are made to Parliament. Under the previous system—with the exception of the Commission for Health Improvement, largely inherited from the Conservative Government—annual reports were published, but not to Parliament. Under the new system, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Commission for Health Care Audit and Inspection will make annual reports to Parliament. We amply cover the concerns of hon. Members that both the successes and the challenges are reported to Parliament on an annual basis.

When we debate the legislation to establish the new inspection bodies, I shall be interested to hear whether Opposition Members raise concerns about the need to ensure that they are able to make an independent determination of quality in the health service and social care service. That would be different from the approach taken by the hon. Member for West Chelmsford, who believes that we should instruct the bodies in the minutiae of their considerations.

Mr. Burns

I did not say that.

Jacqui Smith

That is the implication of the Lords amendment. The other place claims to believe in the independence of the inspection bodies, but that claim lies rather uncomfortably with the proposals in the amendment.

I want to spend some time responding to the points raised by the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) about, among other things, his specialist subject of continuing care. On the points made by the National Audit Office about the definition of good practice, one of the important features of the Bill is that it will put in place a clear process and decision points for determining a delayed discharge and, therefore, the point at which reimbursement should kick in. I heard what the hon. Gentleman said about his colleagues on the metropolitan authority in the west midlands, but perhaps that authority would welcome a visit from the Department's implementation team to ensure that some of the concerns can be ironed out before the Bill comes into force.

The hon. Gentleman asked about the broader definition of delayed discharge. Sir Nigel Crisp, the chief executive of the NHS, has written to those trusts that told the National Audit Office that they were not using the definition. All of them have confirmed that they are now using the correct definition.

The hon. Gentleman also asked about continuing care and its relationship with free nursing care. When nurses undertake a determination of NHS-funded nursing care, we have made it clear that all nurses should consider eligibility under continuing NHS health care criteria as the first step in assessing people's needs for care in a care home providing nursing. Furthermore, in the guidance on NHS-funded nursing care, we have consistently maintained the distinction between NHS-funded nursing care and continuing NHS health care, making it clear that NHS-funded nursing care is part of a spectrum of care that falls short of what one would expect to see when the primary need is for health care. As I have suggested, we have made it clear that, regardless of the eventual setting in which someone is likely to be cared for, we expect the first consideration in a joint assessment of someone's need to be always the extent to which that person meets or does not meet the criteria for NHS continuing health care.

Mr. Burstow

The Minister is making some helpful clarifications. However, will she also undertake to take away the workbook that is currently used for guiding nurses in applying the tool for assessing the entitlement to free nursing care contributions? The workbook contains a case that is exactly the same as a real case considered by the ombudsman, and that must provide incorrect information and the incorrect basis for making decisions.

Jacqui Smith

I was just coming to that point. I have pointed out that the first task is to assess whether someone has a need for NHS continuing care and emphasised that we must consider that on a case-by-case basis. The fictitious case that the hon. Gentleman mentioned would be considered in the assessment of nursing care only if the continuing care criteria were not met. A consideration of that would previously have been carried out. The hon. Gentleman's points about the workbook are not justified.

We are considering inspection and monitoring, and the hon. Gentleman asked whether we could consider the monitoring of the continuing care criteria. Although not solely in response to his concerns, we have asked CHI to consider local policies and criteria as part of a review of the older people's national service framework.

In conclusion, I believe I have provided the reassurance that right hon. and hon. Members wanted. The amendments are unnecessary and challenge the current arrangements and the independence of the inspectorates that we want to develop. For that reason, I hope the House will disagree with the Lords.

Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in the said amendment:—

The House divided: Ayes 308, Noes 198.

Division No. 127] [6:40 pm
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Clark, Mrs Helen (Peterborough)
Adams, Irene (Paisley N) Clark, Dr. Lynda (Edinburgh Pentlands)
Ainger, Nick
Ainsworth, Bob (Cov'try NE) Clark, Paul (Gillingham)
Allen, Graham Clarke, rh Charles (Norwich S)
Anderson, rh Donald (Swansea E) Clarke, Tony (Northampton S)
Anderson, Janet (Rossendale & Darwen) Clelland, David
Anderson, rh Donald (swansea E) Clarke, rh Charles (Norwich S)
Anderson, Janet (Rossendale & Darwen) Clelland, David
Clwyd, Ann (Cynon V)
Armstrong, rh Ms Hilary Coaker, Vernon
Atherton, Ms Candy Coffey, Ms Ann
Atkins, Charlotte Cohen, Harry
Bailey, Adrian Coleman, Iain
Baird, Vera Cook, Frank (Stockton N)
Banks, Tony Corbyn, Jeremy
Barnes, Harry Corston, Jean
Barron, rh Kevin Cousins, Jim
Begg, Miss Anne Cox, Tom (Tooting)
Benn, Hilary Crausby, David
Bennett, Andrew Cruddas, Jon
Benton, Joe (Bootle) Cryer, Ann (Keighley)
Berry, Roger Cryer, John (Hornchurch)
Betts, Clive Cummings, John
Blackman, Liz Cunningham, Jim (Coventry S)
Blears, Ms Hazel Cunningham, Tony (Workington)
Blizzard, Bob Dalyell, Tam
Borrow, David Davey, Valerie (Bristol W)
Bradley, rh Keith (Withington) Davidson, Ian
Bradley, Peter (The Wrekin) Davies, rh Denzil (Llanelli)
Bradshaw, Ben Davies, Geraint (Croydon C)
Brennan, Kevin Davis, rh Terry (B'ham Hodge H)
Brown, rh Nicholas (Newcastle E Wallsend) Dawson, Hilton
Dean, Mrs Janet
Bryant, Chris Dhanda, Parmjit
Buck, Ms Karen Dobbin, Jim (Heywood)
Burden, Richard Dobson, rh Frank
Burgon, Colin Donohoe, Brian H.
Burnham, Andy Doran, Frank
Byers, rh Stephen Dowd, Jim (Lewisham W)
Cairns, David Drew, David (Stroud)
Campbell, Alan (Tynemouth) Drown, Ms Julia
Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge) Eagle, Angela (Wallasey)
Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) Eagle, Maria (L'pool Garston)
Caplin, Ivor Edwards, Huw
Casale, Roger Efford, Clive
Cawsey, Ian (Brigg) Ellman, Mrs Louise
Chapman, Ben (Wirral S) Ennis, Jeff (Barnsley E)
Chaytor, David Etherington, Bill
Clapham, Michael Field, rh Frank (Birkenhead)
Fitzpatrick, Jim Linton, Martin
Fitzsimons, Mrs Lorna Lloyd, Tony (Manchester C)
Flint, Caroline Love, Andrew
Flynn, Paul (Newport W) Lucas, Ian (Wrexham)
Follett, Barbara Luke, Iain (Dundee E)
Foster, rh Derek Lyons, John (Strathkelvin)
Foster, Michael (Worcester) McAvoy, Thomas
Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings & Rye) McCabe, Stephen
McCafferty, Chris
Foulkes, rh George McCartney, rh Ian
Gapes, Mike (Ilford S) McDonagh, Siobhain
Gardiner, Barry MacDonald, Calum
George, rh Bruce (Walsall S) MacDougall, John
Gerrard, Neil McFall, John
Gibson, Dr. Ian McGuire, Mrs Anne
Gilroy, Linda McIsaac, Shona
Godsiff, Roger McKechin, Ann
Griffiths, Jane (Reading E) McWalter Tony
Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) Mahmood, Khalid
Hain, rh Peter Mahon, Mrs Alice
Hall, Mike (Weaver Vale) Mallaber, Judy
Hall, Patrick (Bedford) Mandelson, rh Peter
Hamilton, Fabian (Leeds NE) Mann John (Bassetlaw)
Hanson, David Marris Rob (Wolverh'ton SW)
Harris, Tom (Glasgow Cathcart) Marsden, Gordon (Blackpool S)
Harris, Tom (Glasgow Cathcart) Marshall Jim (Leicester S)
Healey, John Marshall-Andrews, Robert
Henderson, Ivan (Harwich) Martlew, Eric
Hepburn, Stephen Merron, Gillian
Hewitt, rh Ms Patricia Milburn, rh Alan
Heyes, David Miliband, David
Hill, Keith (Streatham) Miller, Andrew
Hoey, Kate (Vauxhall) Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby)
Hood, Jimmy (Clydesdale) Mole, Chris
Hope, Phil (Corby) Moran, Margaret
Hopkins, Kelvin Morgan, Julie
Howarth, George (Knowsley N & Sefton E) Morris, rh Estelle
Mountford, Kali
Hughes, Beverley (Stretford & Urmston) Mudie George
Mullin, Chris
Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N) Munn, Ms Meg
Humble, Mrs Joan Murphy, Denis (Wansbeck)
Hurst, Alan (Braintree) Murphy, Jim (Eastwood)
Iddon, Dr. Brian Murphy, rh Paul (Torfaen)
Illsley, Eric Naysmith, Dr. Doug
Jackson, Glenda (Hempstead & Highgate) Norris Dan (Wansdyke)
O'Brien, Bill (Normanton)
Jackson, Helen (Hillsborough) O'Brien, Mike (N Warks)
Jamieson, David O'Hara, Edward
Jenkins, Brian Olner, Bill
Johnson, Alan (Hull W) O'Neill, Martin
Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) Organ, Diana
Jones, Kevan (N Durham) Osborne, Sandra (Ayr)
Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S) Owen, Albert
Joyce, Eric (Falkirk W) Palmer, Dr. Nick
Kaufman, rh Gerald Perham, Linda
Keeble, Ms Sally Picking, Anne
Keen, Alan (Feltham) Pickthall, Colin
Kidney, David Pike, Peter (Burnley)
Kilfoyle, Peter Plaskitt, James
King, Andy (Rugby) Pollard, Kerry
King, Ms Oona (Bethnal Green & Bow) Pope, Greg (Hyndburn)
Pound, Stephen
Knight, Jim (S Dorset) Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lewisham E)
Kumar, Dr. Ashok
Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Prentice, Gordon (Pendle)
Lammy, David Prosser, Gwyn
Lawrence, Mrs Jackie Purchase, Ken
Laxton, Bob (Derby N) Purnell, James
Lazarowicz, Mark Quin, rh Joyce
Lepper, David Quinn, Lawrie
Levitt, Tom (High Peak) Rapson, Syd (Portsmouth N)
Lewis, Ivan (Bury S) Reed, Andy (Loughborough)
Lewis, Terry (Worsley) Reid, rh Dr. John (Hamilton N & Bellshill)
Liddell, rh Mrs Helen
Robinson, Geoffrey (Coventry NW) Taylor, rh Ann (Dewsbury)
Taylor, Dari (Stockton S)
Roche, Mrs Barbara Taylor, David (NW Leics)
Rooney, Terry Thomas, Gareth (Harrow W)
Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) Timms, Stephen
Roy, Frank (Motherwell) Tipping, Paddy
Ruddock, Joan Todd, Mark (S Derbyshire)
Russell, Ms Christine (City of Chester) Trickett, Jon
Truswell, Paul
Ryan, Joan (Enfield N) Turner, Dr. Desmond (Brighton Kemptown)
Salter, Martin
Sarwar, Mohammad Turner, Neil (Wigan)
Savidge, Malcolm Twigg, Derek (Halton)
Sawford, Phil Twigg, Stephen (Enfield)
Sedgemore, Brian Tynan, Bill (Hamilton S)
Sheridan, Jim Vaz, Keith (Leicester E)
Shipley, Ms Debra Vis, Dr. Rudi
Simon, Siôn (B'ham Erdington) Walley, Ms Joan
Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S) Wareing, Robert N.
Singh, Marsha Watson, Tom (W Bromwich E)
Smith, rh Andrew (Oxford E) Watts, David
Smith, Geraldine (Morecambe & Lunesdale) White, Brian
Whitehead, Dr. Alan
Smith, Jacqui (Redditch) Wicks, Malcolm
Smith, John (Glamorgan) Williams, rh Alan (Swansea W)
Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) Williams, Betty (Conwy)
Soley, Clive Wills, Michael
Spellar, rh John Wilson, Brian
Squire, Rachel Winnick, David
Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Winterton, Ms Rosie (Doncaster C)
Steinberg, Gerry Wood Mike (Batley)
Stevenson, George Woodward, Shaun
Stewart, David (Inverness E & Lochaber) Woolas Phil
Wright, Anthony D. (Gt Yarmouth)
Stewart, Ian (Eccles)
Stinchcombe, Paul Wright, David (Telford)
Stoate, Dr. Howard Wright, Tony (Cannock)
Strang, rh Dr. Gavin
Stringer, Graham Tellers for the Ayes:
Stuart, Ms Gisela Mr. John Heppell and
Tami, Mark (Alyn) Mr. Fiaser Kemp
NOES
Ainsworth, Peter (E Surrey) Cameron, David
Allan, Richard Carmichael, Alistair
Amess, David Cash, William
Ancram, rh Michael Chapman, Sir Sydney (Chipping Barnet)
Arbuthnot, rh James
Atkinson, David (Bour'mth E) Chidgey, David
Atkinson, Peter (Hexham) Chope, Christopher
Bacon, Richard Clappison, James
Baker, Norman Clarke, rh Kenneth (Rushcliffe)
Barker, Gregory Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey
Baron, John (Billericay) Collins, Tim
Beggs, Roy (E Antrim) Cormack, Sir Patrick
Beith, rh A. J. Cran, James (Beverley)
Bellingham, Henry Curry, rh David
Bercow, John Davey, Edward (Kingston)
Beresford, Sir Paul Davies, Quentin (Grantham & Stamford)
Blunt, Crispin
Boswell, Tim Davis, rh David (Haltemprice & Howden)
Bottomley, Peter (Worthing W)
Bottomley, rh Virginia (SW Surrey) Djanogly, Jonathan
Dorrell, rh Stephen
Brady, Graham Doughty, Sue
Brake, Tom (Carshalton) Duncan, Alan (Rutland)
Brazier, Julian Duncan Smith, rh Iain
Breed, Colin Evans, Nigel
Browning, Mrs Angela Fabricant, Michael
Bruce, Malcolm Fallon, Michael
Burnett, John Field, Mark (Cities of London & Westminster)
Burns, Simon
Burnside, David Flight, Howard
Burstow, Paul Flook, Adrian
Calton, Mrs Patsy Forth, rh Eric
Foster, Don (Bath) Öpik, Lembit
Fox, Dr. Liam Osborne, George (Tatton)
Gale, Roger (N Thanet) Ottaway, Richard
Garnier, Edward Page, Richard
George, Andrew (St. Ives) Paice, James
Gibb, Nick (Bognor Regis) Paterson, Owen
Gidley, Sandra Pickles, Eric
Gillan, Mrs Cheryl Price, Adam (E Carmarthen & Dinefwr)
Goodman, Paul
Grayling, Chris Prisk, Mark (Hertford)
Green, Damian (Ashford) Pugh, Dr. John
Green, Matthew (Ludlow) Randall, John
Greenway, John Redwood, rh John
Grieve, Dominic Reid, Alan (Argyll & Bute)
Gummer, rh John Rendel, David
Hague, rh William Robathan, Andrew
Hammond, Philip Robertson, Hugh (Faversham & M-Kent)
Hancock, Mike
Harris, Dr. Evan (Oxford W & Abingdon) Robertson, Laurence (Tewk'b'ry)
Robinson, Mrs Iris (Strangford)
Harvey, Nick Robinson, Peter (Belfast E)
Hawkins, Nick Rosindell, Andrew
Hayes, John (S Holland) Ruffley, David
Heald, Oliver Russell, Bob (Colchester)
Heath, David Sanders, Adrian
Hermon, Lady Sayeed, Jonathan
Hoban, Mark (Fareham) Selous, Andrew
Holmes, Paul Shephard, rh Mrs Gillian
Horam, John (Orpington) Simmonds, Mark
Howard, rh Michael Smith sir Robert (W Ab'ns & Kincardine)
Hughes, Simon (Southwark N)
Hunter, Andrew Smyth, Rev. Martin (Belfast S)
Jack, rh Michael Spelman, Mrs Caroline
Jackson, Robert (Wantage) Spicer Sir Michael
Jenkin, Bernard Spink Bob (Castle Point)
Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham) Spring Richard
Keetch, Paul Stanley, rh Sir John
Kennedy, rh Charles (Ross Skye & Inverness) Steen Anthony
Streeter Gary
Key, Robert (Salisbury) stunell, Andrew
Kirkbride Miss Julie Swayne Desmond
Kirkwood, Sir Archy Swire, Hugo (E Devon)
Knight, rh Greg (E Yorkshire) Syms, Robert
Laing Mrs Eleanor Taylor, John (Solihull)
Lait, Mrs Jacqui Taylor, Matthew (Truro)
Lamb, Norman Taylor, Dr. Richard (Wyre F)
Lansley, Andrew Taylor, Sir Teddy
Laws, David (Yeovil)
Leigh, Edward Thomas, Simon (Ceredigion)
Lewis, Dr. Julian (New Forest E) Thurso, John
Liddell-Grainger, Ian Tonge, Dr. Jenny
Lidington, David Tredinnick, David
Lilley rh Peter Turner, Andrew (Isle of Wight)
Llwyd Elfyn Tyler, Paul (N Cornwall)
Loughton, Tim Tyrie, Andrew
Luff, Peter (M-Worcs) Viggers, Peter
McIntosh, Miss Anne Waterson, Nigel
Mackay, rh Andrew Watkinson, Angela
Maclean, rh David Webb, Steve (Northavon)
McLoughlin, Patrick Whittingdale, John
Malins, Humfrey Wiggin, Bill
Maples, John Wilkinson, John
Marsden, Paul (Shrewsbury & Atcham) Willetts, David
Williams, Hywel (Caernarfon)
Mates, Michael Williams, Roger (Brecon)
Maude, rh Francis Willis, Phil
May, Mrs Theresa Winterton, Ann (Congleton)
Mercer, Patrick Winterton, Sir Nicholas (Macclesfield)
Mitchell, Andrew (Sutton Coldfield)
Yeo, Tim (S Suffolk)
Moore, Michael Young, rh Sir George
Moss, Malcolm Younger-Ross, Richard
Murrison, Dr. Andrew
Norman, Archie Tellers for the Noes:
Oaten, Mark (Winchester) Mr. David Wilshire and
O'Brien, Stephen (Eddisbury) Mr. Mark Francois

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords amendment disagreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 25

Motion made, and Question put, That this House disagrees with the Lords in the said amendment.—[Jacqui Smith.]

The House divided: Ayes 318, Noes 198.

Division No. 128] [6:53 pm
AYES
Abbott, Ms Diane Corston, Jean
Adams, Irene (Paisley N) Cousins, Jim
Ainger, Nick Cox, Tom (Tooting)
Ainsworth, Bob (Cov'try NE) Crausby, David
Allen, Graham Cruddas, Jon
Anderson, rh Donald (Swansea E) Cryer, Ann (Keighley)
Anderson, Janet (Rossendale & Darwen) Cryer, John (Hornchurch)
Cummings, John
Armstrong, rh Ms Hilary Cunningham, Jim (Coventry S)
Atherton, Ms Candy Cunningham, Tony (Workington)
Atkins, Charlotte Curtis-Thomas, Mrs Claire
Bailey, Adrian Dalyell, Tam
Baird, Vera Davey, Valerie (Bristol W)
Banks, Tony Davidson, Ian
Barnes, Harry Davies, rh Denzil (Llanelli)
Barron, rh Kevin Davies, Geraint (Croydon C)
Begg, Miss Anne Davis, rh Terry (B'ham Hodge H)
Benn, Hilary Dean, Mrs Janet
Bennett, Andrew Dhanda, Parmjit
Benton, Joe (Bootle) Dobbin, Jim (Heywood)
Berry, Roger Dobson, rh Frank
Best, Harold Donohoe, Brian H.
Betts, Clive Doran, Frank
Blackman, Liz Dowd, Jim (Lewisham W)
Blears, Ms Hazel Drew, David (Stroud)
Blizzard, Bob Drown, Ms Julia
Borrow, David Eagle, Angela (Wallasey)
Bradley, rh Keith (Withington) Eagle, Maria (L'pool Garston)
Bradley, Peter (The Wrekin) Edwards, Huw
Bradshaw, Ben Efford, Clive
Brennan, Kevin Ellman, Mrs Louise
Brown, rh Nicholas (Newcastle E Wallsend) Ennis, Jeff (Barnsley E)
Etherington, Bill
Bryant, Chris Field, rh Frank (Birkenhead)
Buck, Ms Karen Fitzpatrick, Jim
Burden, Richard Fitzsimons, Mrs Lorna
Burgon, Colin Flint, Caroline
Burnham, Andy Flynn, Paul (Newport W)
Byers, rh Stephen Follett, Barbara
Caborn, rh Richard Foster, rh Derek
Cairns, David Foster, Michael (Worcester)
Campbell, Alan (Tynemouth) Foster, Michael Jabez (Hastings & Rye)
Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge)
Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V) Foulkes, rh George
Caplin, Ivor Gapes, Mike (Ilford S)
Casale, Roger Gardiner, Barry
Cawsey, Ian (Brigg) George, rh Bruce (Walsall S)
Chapman, Ben (Wirral S) Gerrard, Neil
Chaytor, David Gibson, Dr. Ian
Clapham, Michael Gilroy, Linda
Clark, Mrs Helen (Peterborough) Godsiff, Roger
Clark, Dr. Lynda (Edinburgh Pentlands) Goggins, Paul
Griffiths, Jane (Reading E)
Clark, Paul (Gillingham) Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S)
Clarke, Tony (Northampton S) Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)
Clelland, David Hain, rh Peter
Clwyd, Ann (Cynon V) Hall, Mike (Weaver Vale)
Coaker, Vernon Hall, Patrick (Bedford)
Coffey, Ms Ann Hamilton, David (Midlothian)
Cohen, Harry Hamilton, Fabian (Leeds NE)
Cook, Frank (Stockton N) Hanson, David
Corbyn, Jeremy Harris, Tom (Glasgow Cathcart)
Havard, Dai (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney) Mahon, Mrs Alice
Mallaber, Judy
Healey, John Mandelson, rh Peter
Henderson, Ivan (Harwich) Mann, John (Bassetlaw)
Hepburn, Stephen Marris, Rob (Wolverh'ton SW)
Hewitt, rh Ms Patricia Marsden, Gordon (Blackpool S)
Heyes, David Marshall, Jim (Leicester S)
Hill, Keith (Streatham) Marshall-Andrews, Robert
Hoey, Kate (Vauxhall) Martlew, Eric
Hood, Jimmy (Clydesdale) Merron, Gillian
Hope, Phil (Corby) Milburn, rh Alan
Hopkins, Kelvin Miliband, David
Howarth, rh Alan (Newport E) Miller, Andrew
Howarth, George (Knowsley N & Sefton E) Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby)
Mole, Chris
Hughes, Beverley (Stretford & Urmston) Moonie, Dr. Lewis
Moran, Margaret
Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N) Morgan, Julie
Humble, Mrs Joan Morris, rh Estelle
Hurst, Alan (Braintree) Mountford, Kali
Hutton, rh John Mudie, George
Iddon, Dr. Brian Mullin, Chris
Illsley, Eric Munn, Ms Meg
Jackson, Glenda (Hampstead & Highgate) Murphy, Denis (Wansbeck)
Murphy, Jim (Eastwood)
Jackson, Helen (Hillsborough) Murphy, rh Paul (Torfaen)
Jamieson, David Naysmith, Dr. Doug
Jenkins, Brian Norris, Dan (Wansdyke)
Johnson, Alan (Hull W) O'Brien, Bill (Normanton)
Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C) O'Brien, Mike (N Warks)
Jones, Kevan (N Durham) O'Hara, Edward
Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S) Olner, Bill
Jowell, rh Tessa O'Neill, Martin
Joyce, Eric (Falkirk W) Organ, Diana
Kaufman, rh Gerald Osborne, Sandra (Ayr)
Keeble, Ms Sally Owen, Albert
Keen, Alan (Feltham) Palmer, Dr. Nick
Kidney, David Perham, Linda
Kilfoyle, Peter Picking, Anne
King, Andy (Rugby) Pickthall, Colin
King, Ms Oona (Bethnal Green & Bow) Pike, Peter (Burnley)
Plaskitt, James
Knight, Jim (S Dorset) Pollard, Kerry
Kumar, Dr. Ashok Pope, Greg (Hyndburn)
Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Pound, Stephen
Lammy, David Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lewisham E)
Lawrence, Mrs Jackie
Laxton, Bob (Derby N) Prentice, Gordon (Pendle)
Lazarowicz, Mark Prosser, Gwyn
Lepper, David Purchase, Ken
Levitt, Tom (High Peak) Purnell, James
Lewis, Ivan (Bury S) Quin, rh Joyce
Lewis, Terry (Worsley) Quinn, Lawrie
Liddell, rh Mrs Helen Rapson, Syd (Portsmouth N)
Linton, Martin Reed, Andy (Loughborough)
Lloyd, Tony (Manchester C) Reid, rh Dr. John (Hamilton N & Bellshill)
Love, Andrew
Lucas, Ian (Wrexham) Robinson, Geoffrey (Coventry NW)
Luke, Iain (Dundee E)
Lyons, John (Strathkelvin) Roche, Mrs Barbara
McAvoy, Thomas Rooney, Terry
McCabe, Stephen Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)
McCafferty, Chris Roy, Frank (Motherwell)
McCartney, rh Ian Ruddock, Joan
McDonagh, Siobhain Russell, Ms Christine (City of Chester)
MacDonald, Calum
McDonnell, John Ryan, Joan (Enfield N)
MacDougall, John Salter, Martin
McFall, John Sarwar, Mohammad
McGuire, Mrs Anne Savidge, Malcolm
McIsaac, Shona Sawford, Phil
McKechin, Ann Sedgemore, Brian
Mackinlay, Andrew Sheridan, Jim
MacShane, Denis Shipley, Ms Debra
McWalter, Tony Simon, Siôn (B'ham Erdington)
Mahmood, Khalid Simpson, Alan (Nottingham S)
Singh, Marsha Turner, Dr. Desmond (Brighton Kemptown)
Smith, rh Andrew (Oxford E)
Smith, Geraldine (Morecambe & Lunesdale) Turner, Neil (Wigan)
Twigg, Derek (Halton)
Smith, Jacqui (Redditch) Twigg, Stephen (Enfield)
Smith, John (Glamorgan) Tynan, Bill (Hamilton S)
Smith, Llew (Blaenau Gwent) Vaz, Keith (Leicester E)
Soley, Clive Vis, Dr. Rudi
Spellar, rh John Walley, Ms Joan
Squire, Rachel Wareing, Robert N.
Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Watson, Tom (W Bromwich E)
Steinberg, Gerry Watts, David
Stevenson, George White, Brian
Stewart, David (Inverness E & Lochaber) Whitehead, Dr. Alan
Wicks, Malcolm
Stewart, Ian (Eccles) Williams, rh Alan (Swansea W)
Stinchcombe, Paul Williams, Betty (Conwy)
Stoate, Dr. Howard Wills, Michael
Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Winnick, David
Stringer, Graham Winterton, Ms Rosie (Doncaster C)
Stuart, Ms Gisela
Tami, Mark (Alyn) Wood, Mike (Batley)
Taylor, rh Ann (Dewsbury) Woodward, Shaun
Taylor, Dari (Stockton S) Woolas, Phil
Taylor, David (NW Leics) Wright, Anthony D. (Gt Yarmouth)
Thomas, Gareth (Harrow W)
Timms, Stephen Wright, David (Telford)
Tipping, Paddy Wright, Tony (Cannock)
Todd, Mark (S Derbyshire)
Touhig, Don (Islwyn) Tellers for the Ayes:
Trickett, Jon Mr. Fraser Kemp and
Truswell, Paul Mr. John Heppell
NOES
Ainsworth, Peter (E Surrey) Cormack, Sir Patrick
Allan, Richard Cran, James (Beverley)
Amess, David Curry, rh David
Ancram, rh Michael Davey, Edward (Kingston)
Arbuthnot, rh James Davies, Quentin (Grantham & Stamford)
Atkinson, David (Bour'mth E)
Atkinson, Peter (Hexham) Davis, rh David (Haltemprice & Howden)
Bacon, Richard
Baker, Norman Djanogly, Jonathan
Barker, Gregory Dorrell, rh Stephen
Baron, John (Billericay) Doughty, Sue
Beggs, Roy (E Antrim) Duncan, Alan (Rutland)
Beith, rh A. J. Duncan Smith, rh Iain
Bellingham, Henry Evans, Nigel
Beresford, Sir Paul Fabricant Michael
Blunt, Crispin Fallon, Michael
Boswell, Tim Field, Mark (Cities of London & Westminster)
Bottomley, Peter (Worthing W)
Bottomley, rh Virginia (SW Surrey) Flight, Howard
Flook, Adrian
Brady, Graham Forth, rh Eric
Brake, Tom (Carshalton) Foster, Don (Bath)
Brazier, Julian Fox, Dr. Liam
Breed, Colin Gale, Roger (N Thanet)
Browning, Mrs Angela Garnier, Edward
Bruce, Malcolm George, Andrew (St. Ives)
Burnett, John Gibb, Nick (Bognor Regis)
Burns, Simon Gidley, Sandra
Burnside, David Gillan, Mrs Cheryl
Burstow, Paul Goodman, Paul
Calton, Mrs Patsy Grayling, Chris
Cameron, David Green, Damian (Ashford)
Carmichael, Alistair Green, Matthew (Ludlow)
Cash, William Greenway, John
Chapman, Sir Sydney (Chipping Barnet) Grieve, Dominic
Gummer, rh John
Chidgey, David Hague, rh William
Chope, Christopher Hammond, Philip
Clappison, James Hancock, Mike
Clarke, rh Kenneth (Rushcliffe) Harris, Dr. Evan (Oxford W & Abingdon)
Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey
Collins, Tim Harvey, Nick
Hawkins, Nick Price, Adam (E Carmarthen and Dinefwr)
Hayes, John (S Holland)
Heald, Oliver Prisk, Mark (Hertford)
Heath, David Pugh, Dr. John
Hermon, Lady Randall, John
Hoban, Mark (Fareham) Redwood, rh John
Hogg, rh Douglas Reid, Alan (Argyll & Bute)
Holmes, Paul Rendel, David
Horam, John (Orpington) Robathan, Andrew
Howard, rh Michael Robertson, Hugh (Faversham & M-kent)
Hughes, Simon (Southwark N)
Hunter, Andrew Robertson, Laurence (Tewk'b'ry)
Robinson, Mrs Iris (Strangford) Jack, rh Michael
Robinson, Peter (Belfast E)
Jackson, Robert (Wantage) Rosindell, Andrew
Jenkin, Bernard Ruffley, David
Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham) Russell, Bob (Colchester)
Keetch, Paul Sanders Adrian
Kennedy, rh Charles (Ross Skye & Inverness) Sayeed, Jonathan
Selous, Andrew
Key, Robert (Salisbury) Shephard, rh Mrs Gillian
Kirkbride, Miss Julie Simmonds, Mark
Kirkwood, Sir Archy Smith, Sir Robert (W Ab'd'ns & Kincardine)
Knight, rh Greg (E Yorkshire)
Laing, Mrs Eleanor Smyth, Rev. Martin (Belfast S)
Lait, Mrs Jacqui Spelman, Mrs Caroline
Lamb, Norman Spicer, Sir Michael
Lansley, Andrew Spink, Bob (Castle Point)
Laws, David (Yeovil) Spring, Richard
Leigh, Edward Stanley, rh Sir John
Lewis, Dr. Julian (New Forest E) Steen, Anthony
Liddell-Grainger, Ian Streeter, Gary
Lidington, David Stunell, Andrew
Lilley, rh Peter Swayne, Desmond
Llwyd Elfyn Swire, Hugo (E Devon)
Loughton, Tim Syms, Robert
Luff, Peter (M-Worcs) Taylor, John (Solihull)
McGrady, Eddie Taylor, Matthew (Truro)
Taylor, Dr. Richard (Wyre F)
McIntosh, Miss Anne Taylor, Sir Teddy
Mackay, rh Andrew Thomas, Simon (Ceredigion)
Maclean, rh David Thurso, John
McLoughlin, Patrick Tonge Dr. Jenny
Malins, Humfrey Tredinnick, David
Maples, John Turner, Andrew (Isle of Wight)
Marsden, Paul (Shrewsbury & Atcham) Tyler, Paul (N Cornwall)
Tyrie, Andrew
Mates, Michael Viggers, Peter
Maude, rh Francis Waterson, Nigel
May, Mrs Theresa Watkinson, Angela
Mercer, Patrick Webb, Steve (Northavon)
Mitchell, Andrew (Sutton Coldfield) Whittingdale, John
Wiggin, Bill
Moore, Michael Wilkinson, John
Willetts, David
Moss, Malcolm Williams, Hywel (Caernarfon)
Murrison, Dr. Andrew Williams, Roger (Brecon)
Norman Archie Winterton, Ann (Congleton)
Oaten, Mark (Winchester) winterton, Sir Nicholas (Macclesfield)
O'Brien, Stephen (Eddisbury)
Öpik, Lembit Yeo, Tim (S Suffolk)
Osborne, George (Tatton) Young, rh Sir George
Ottaway, Richard Younger-Ross, Richard
Page, Richard
Paice, James Tellers for the Noes:
Paterson, Owen Mr. David Wilshire and
Pickles, Eric Mr. Mark Francois

Question accordingly agreed to.

Lords amendment disagreed to.

It being after Seven o' clock, Mr. Speaker then proceeded to the Questions necessary to conclude proceedings, pursuant to Orders [28 June 2001 and 29 October 2002.]

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