NHS England: Health and Social Care Act 2012 Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Department of Health and Social Care

NHS England: Health and Social Care Act 2012

Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top Excerpts
Wednesday 7th May 2014

(10 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, we are not happy with that and, as I have said in the House before, Ministers have made it very clear to NHS England that this decision is both surprising and unwelcome in view of the need to maintain parity of esteem. NHS England, the NHS Trust Development Authority and Monitor are addressing this issue vigorously and we have regular discussions with those bodies to ensure that mental health services do not suffer.

Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top Portrait Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Lab)
- Hansard - -

My Lords, I wonder whether the Secretary of State now regrets supporting those aspects of the Bill—now an Act— that put him at a distance from interfering in the National Health Service and its agencies. Will the Minister nudge his colleague the Secretary of State to show that the level of micromanaging he is indulging in disempowers and disables the very people and organisations that his legislation put in charge?