Draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Luke Evans Excerpts

Monday 10th February 2025 General Committees

[Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Desmond.

I thank the Minister for stepping in, and we agree that this SI needs to be passed with urgency. I also agree that it is not the place for a discussion of the CQC and its failings. She highlighted a couple of issues of concern, on which I would like to probe the Government a little, such as ending the exemption for sports arenas and cultural events. Given the Manchester Arena bombing and inquiry, it is clear that protections need to be in place, but the Opposition are concerned about the burden on small businesses and charity groups, which may well have to deal with the red tape involved in being regulated by the CQC. I would therefore be grateful if the Government considered producing an impact assessment of that red tape and how it will work in practice. CQC registration makes perfect sense when there are medical interventions in arenas, but how is it likely to work for a small football club run on a voluntary basis, or for a charity? At this point, I declare an interest: my brother is a sport and exercise medicine consultant and the medical director of the Lawn Tennis Association and so could in theory come within scope of some of these changes.

As part of the consultation response, the Government stated that

“further policy and operational consideration”

was needed. Will the Minister clarify what that means in practice? I also want to ask the Minister a question about regulation 5 of the 2014 regulations, which set out the criteria for an individual to be considered a fit and proper person to take up a role as a director of a health service body or provider. The last Government started a review of the duty of candour expected of healthcare professionals. Will the Minister provide an update on when the Department will publish the outcome of that consultation, and have the Government made an assessment of how the outcome of the consultation may affect the provisions of the 2014 regulations as they relate to criteria for directors of health and care providers?

Overall, the Opposition are supportive of the direction in which the Government want to go with this legislation. We understand the urgency of the timetable in front of us, but the concerns felt by Opposition Members will need to be addressed, so that we do not inadvertently overburden some of these institutions, which are already feeling difficulties when it comes to regulation. I would be grateful for the Minister’s answers.