NHS: New Junior Doctor Contract

Debate between Lord Myners and Lord Prior of Brampton

Monday 18th April 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I do not think that the Secretary of State has been under any misapprehension about his powers in this matter. The BMA, on behalf of the junior doctors, is judicially reviewing his powers, but those powers are clearly set out in Section 1 of the 2006 Act. It is our position that he has always had those powers, but we expect that to go to a judicial review on 8 and 9 June.

[Lord Myners (CB)]

My Lords, does the Minister commend the Government’s handling of this matter to private sector employers?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I think that all good employers recognise that having the trust and confidence of their staff is fundamental. No employer, government or private, would wish to have the outcome we have in this situation. As I said earlier, there are absolutely no winners from this dispute, and the Government regret as much as anybody that we have come to this particular pass.