National Health Service (Amended Duties and Powers) Bill

Debate between Clive Efford and Jim Cunningham

Friday 21st November 2014 Commons Chamber

[Clive Efford]

There are a number of provisions relating to the Secretary of State which state that everything that is decided has to put patients first, rather than competition. That is the key difference in this Bill. The Secretary of State will have to be satisfied that every penny raised from private income serves the needs of patients. The Secretary of State will set the limit, which can be variable, but it will have to come down because this House will demand that.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

Is it not true that, under this Government’s reorganisation, between £3 billion and £5 billion has been wasted as a result of tendering exercises?