NHS Reform Bill Looks Set To Be Passed After Lord Owen's Last-Ditch Blocking Motion Fails

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 19/03/2012 17:52 Updated: 19/03/2012 20:37

The NHS Reforms enshrined in the Health and Social Care Bill are almost certain to become law within a matter of days after a last-ditch attempt to delay the Bill in the House of Lords was seen off by the government.

The controversial Bill which will radically change the way the NHS functions completed its passage through the House of Lords on Monday night.

Lord Owen had tried to hold up the passage of controversial NHS legislation, but this was defeated by 328 votes to 213, a government majority of 115.

His amendment had called on the NHS Risk Register to be published before peers signed off the Bill. The risk register is a document detailing what the effects of Andrew Lansley's far-reaching reforms might be on the day-to-day running of the Health Service.

Lansley has refused to publish the dossier, despite rulings by the Information Commissioner and an appeal tribunal compelling him to do so.

The size of the defeat was quite surprising but the government packed out their lobby in the Lords and the Lib Dem peers opted not to rebel.

A further amendment from Labour peer Baroness Thornton, which called for the Bill to be dropped entirely, was similarly defeated later on Monday evening.

The Commons will consider the amendments made to it on Tuesday afternoon, but not before an emergency debate among MPs secured by shadow health secretary Andy Burnham. He won a motion in the Commons on Monday afternoon, also calling for the NHS risk register to be published.

Under a standing order of the Commons, Burnham said it was imperative that MPs had the full facts before them as they voted to pass the Bill into law.

"This is not a matter of the rights and wrongs of the Bill," Burnham told MPs on Monday afternoon. "Parliament has a right to know before it makes a final judgement."

The decision to allow the emergency debate came after Labour packed out its benches in the Commons and a visual gauge of the mood of the house was made by the Speaker.

Labour MPs cried "shame" to Lib Dem MPs Simon Hughes and Sir Menzies Campbell, who refused to stand up and be counted in favour of the emergency amendment.

Andrew Lansley was not present in the Commons at the time of the motion.

Labour has no chance of winning Tuesday's motion in the Commons, where the coalition has a clear majority. This means Andrew Lansley can expect the Bill to be given Royal Assent and passed into law by Easter.

Some amendments have not been approved by ministers, who are expected to try to overturn them when the Commons considers the amendments, following the emergency debate on Tuesday afternoon.

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The NHS Reforms enshrined in the Health and Social Care Bill are almost certain to become law within a matter of days after a last-ditch attempt to delay the Bill in the House of Lords was seen off by...
The NHS Reforms enshrined in the Health and Social Care Bill are almost certain to become law within a matter of days after a last-ditch attempt to delay the Bill in the House of Lords was seen off by...
 
 
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11:32 PM on 03/24/2012
Camoron is unstable, he's showing signs of OCD among others - Time the NHS acted!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
whoknew42
Credulity is not a virtue
01:40 PM on 03/23/2012
As an American - please allow me to warn you about privatizing your healthcare system

It is profits over people

People do die over here due to lack of health insurance - it happens everyday

Once you privatize the system, those that profit from that system will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way - and they'll have the means to do it

We envy your system - please don't change it!
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hearthammer
If left is right and right is wrong, decide!
08:39 AM on 03/20/2012
I'm glad I live in Scotland and we can run OUR NHS, OUR way!
12:35 PM on 03/20/2012
....but of course with the benefit of a subsidy from Englist taxpayers!
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hearthammer
If left is right and right is wrong, decide!
03:35 PM on 03/20/2012
Nonsense and proved to be nonsense many times.
06:11 AM on 03/20/2012
I wonder how many of the "bids" from private companies for NHS work will come in brown envelopes?
07:49 AM on 03/20/2012
I don't think the danger is only with private companies getting involved.
Private companies have been commissioned for a long time with the NHS - because some private companies do things better and cheaper than the NHS(the NHS is a rather slow and large ship that is not particularly flexible...)

I think the problem is with GPs holding the purse strings - GPs are at present run as private companies who are paid by the various organisations being dissolved by the government.
What is going to happen is that GPs will be paying themslves - in other words they will be deciding on whether you should get that varicose vein surgery or whether they should give themselves a pay rise - which one do you think many GPs will go for?

Also GPs are not businessmen so they will have to hire people with this understanding or make some outstandingly bad decisions.
11:27 PM on 03/24/2012
Totally agree!

Gr**dy P*r*sites! Most GPs cause illness!
This comment has been removed.
12:43 AM on 03/20/2012
This is what happens when you vote in tories.

So many fools with short term memories.
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hearthammer
If left is right and right is wrong, decide!
08:35 AM on 03/20/2012
So what was the alternative in England? The Tories with the red rose?
12:40 AM on 03/20/2012
I am concerned about essential services being put in the hands of private companies because there is a risk that private companies, in an attempt to increase their profit levels, will put profit before justice and morality. They privatised electricity, water, gas, postal services (and look how they increased charges to the consumer) now also road maintenance, etc... The general public in Britain never seem to want to take to the streets on mass in protest, so the government just gets away with privatising to the benefit of only their rich friends looking for another opportunity to rip off the general public. Only a minority make an effort to protest. Well - we'll all be facing the consequences of our inaction in due course.
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12:57 AM on 03/20/2012
For my part i donated to an org online to help their plightto stop this law....
As you say, no one was really willing to organise a march through London which might have made a difference, hundreds wasnt enough...it needed thousands....
01:11 AM on 03/20/2012
It is good that you donated towards helping. You're right - we needed thousands of people joining the protest to stop this. Mass protest takes a lot of organising and unfortunately, although people do care, there was no one to lead/organise a mass protest. Well done for donating, you probably helped to raise awareness - and that has to be good.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dombeyandson
08:12 AM on 03/20/2012
They are in business to make a profit. State run services are or should be just that SERVICES FOR WHICH WE PAY. Now the TORIES [the NHS is safe in our hands] are cherry pickihg to enable the NHS to become a provider or an agency for health services and their obligation will not be to deliver as of now but simlply to point you in the right direction. The Tories and their myopic supporters believe they are paying for everything from their high rolling earnings. The Tories intent is eventually to strip away every vestige of the state or even local government providing central services but to deliver them commercially. We will end up paying through the nose because it will be provided commercially
11:59 PM on 03/19/2012
Another nail in the coffin for Joe Public!
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AlanDente
Noses: made to hold glasses
11:58 PM on 03/19/2012
The NHS changes have been quietly proceeding for over a year.

What we're now seeing is box-ticking, essentially.

That's why these amendments etc. are not sticking. The course has already been set and the ship has sailed (quietly at night, so no one really noticed).
10:40 PM on 03/19/2012
How much of Public opinion is being listened to by any Conservative Politicians can be measured at the Zero - Minus levels of Debate surrounding everything from the English NHS onward's.

But then, what doe's anyone else really expect any Millionaire Tory Muppet to do, since after all, they at least can afford to go Private. And DO.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
11:52 PM on 03/19/2012
I'll bet Lansley' is already on the phone to his Private Health Companies'..While the the rest of the Condem' Traitors' wash their hands in the commons' Toilets'..the Blood from our NHS's hands'...Welcome to the Dictatorship eh?...Shame on them...all
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dombeyandson
08:14 AM on 03/20/2012
NONE
09:54 PM on 03/19/2012
These politicians claimed that the NHS would be safe in their hands !
they're outrageous liars & conmen ; they'll get their commupance like thatcher , blair & the rest
Feel physically sick that this is going ahead ; people never voted for this
For the lib/dems to go along with this is truly awfull ; they are finished as a political force
Even after 3 labour govts the tories still couldn't get a majority on their own
This legislation will be their undoing like the poll tax was to thatcher
majority of health care professionals are against this as are the people
It's disgusting ! we won't put profit before people was the politicians cry !!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dombeyandson
08:18 AM on 03/20/2012
But it will be too costly to reverse the process or if the next government has the balls as in 1947 they will renationalise the lot for the benefit of the country. I would hope the privateers will only have a short time to live. The Attlee government had the balls in an endeavour to get the country backon its feet after the war. The Tories were kicking and screaming all the way from the bank. We need some national spirit NOW instead of this me first because I've got the money and I have the privilege to be able to pay for it from screwing the rest of you
03:56 PM on 03/20/2012
What commupance is this? They were rich when they entered Parliament. They left Multi -Millionaires.
09:13 PM on 03/19/2012
A party that claimed only 38% on a 63% turn out meaning only 22% of the total population voted for them and then makes the proposed changes to fundamental services with out going back to the polls and standing on these issues are showing complete contempt for the people they are supposed to govern on the behalf off. And there is the important part govern on behalf not force through with the help of a small number of Lib Dem MP's drunk on power and scared of the day they lose it, something that the majority and professionals oppose. Election now Cameron put what you really believe in to the people and stand on them like a man, let the count begin.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
11:55 PM on 03/19/2012
I agree..
Lord Elpus
If you're going through hell, keep going
11:58 PM on 03/19/2012
I don't
08:00 AM on 03/20/2012
"A party that claimed only 38% on a 63% turn out meaning only 22% of the total population voted for them"

Actually it's far less than 22% of the "total population" - it's 22% of the "voting population".
I'm not sure what the final percentage is but the whole thing is a terrible shambles...
01:11 PM on 03/20/2012
Yes you are right, I was unclear by total population going back to my stastical training I ment population from which the figures were drawn in this case those eligable to do so. Old habits as they say
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mmartini54
Roll on 2015!
09:02 PM on 03/19/2012
The LibDems finest hour...ahem...may this come back to haunt them...
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
11:56 PM on 03/19/2012
Ther're finnished....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
redsquad
Shootin' from the lip
08:05 PM on 03/19/2012
What occupied the news most today...? NHS murdered? Dictatorship Britain? The death of democracy?

No, a footballer ill in hospital, and Kate Middleton's on her first "public engagement" (my, she works hard)

Oh look, only five comments... has this story been buried here too?
10:22 PM on 03/19/2012
its all being covered up.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
11:59 PM on 03/19/2012
I agree'They're censoring all of the media'...Remind me of other countries that are doing the same?
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Totto
"Not 'Noise' One Round: *Music*
03:08 PM on 03/20/2012
And on this very site. . .
03:59 PM on 03/20/2012
It' the dumbing down of our society. Keep us happy with absolute trash. casual agent you are so right.
08:02 PM on 03/19/2012
Thanks Clegg.

If you were a MAN instead of a Tory rasclut, you would stand up like a MAN and get shot of this administration.

Your recent flagging reputation would be restored and you would no longer be in deep sh*te.

Well, one can live in hopes, even for the nearest to Quising in this modern age.
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casual agent
Advocate for social justice
11:59 PM on 03/19/2012
Ditto..
12:41 PM on 03/20/2012
f & f scouse55 . . well said . . .