Speeches by Johnson.

“Clause 2 contains no requirement for the Government to report to this House on the transfers that have been made. We know that the Government have been rummaging around for loose change, so there is a real risk that NHS England’s resources are transferred to places that may be flattering to the balance sheet but not ne…”

“Clause 2 permits the transfer to a defined list of entities such as integrated care boards and trusts, but also the transfer to “any other public body”—it is a very broad clause. If the Government have identified seven types of entities that may receive parts of NHS England, as outlined in paragraphs 2(1)(a) to (g), wh…”

“Clause 2 facilitates the movement of property rights and liabilities from NHS England to the Secretary of State and public bodies. I recognise that transfer schemes are necessary to reorganise parts of the state, but in this instance the scale of the transfer is extraordinary—and the extraordinary necessitates addition…”

“In my personal view, that is the Government’s strongest case for abolishing NHS England. The re-establishment of democratic accountability requires legislation that allows Ministers to take control, but there is a difference between taking control of some things and taking control of everything. If the Bill is not amen…”

“One of the Bill’s aims is to improve accountability, which I support. If arm’s length bodies are in control of things for which Ministers are normally responsible, there is a democratic deficit. When hospitals were closed or services reconfigured against the express wish of communities, Ministers would say that it was …”

“Private firms with NHS contracts are now aware that this legislation makes it possible for the Secretary of State to force commissioning bodies to cancel contracts or even elbow them out in an ideological push. That political uncertainty may command a risk premium, which would mean more expensive contracts and addition…”

“There is another aspect that has not received much scrutiny. The abolition of NHS England will centralise power in the hands of the Secretary of State, once again politicising resource allocation. Private NHS contractors have been operating in a depoliticised commissioning environment, but they now face operating in a …”

“Given that the Committee is considering legislation that will abolish NHS England, I would contend that now is the “appropriate time”. I tabled a question asking the Minister whether her Department has used management consultants for the purpose of abolishing NHS England and, if so, what the cost has been to the taxpay…”

““The Government is committed to ensuring that Parliament and the public are appropriately informed of exit costs, as well as material consultancy, administration, and restructuring costs. Information will be published at the appropriate time”.”

“In December, my hon. Friend the Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) tabled a question about the projected cost of abolishing NHS England, including consultancy fees and administration and restructuring costs. In her response, the Minister stated:”

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“There are hidden costs, too. The impact assessment mentions the transition costs of external consultancy, executive recruitment and actuarial advice—those can be quite expensive. What does the Minister expect those costs to be for the abolition of NHS England?”

“When abolishing something, or giving instructions to the civil service to abolish it, it is worth thinking, “What do we want to do instead? What is going to be the replacement?” We heard from my right hon. Friend the Member for Melton and Syston about how, with his Bill back in 2022, he changed the way that ICBs were s…”

“When the independent investigation was published, the Government did not dispute his assertion that reorganisation is disruptive. Can the Minister confirm whether the Government planned to abolish NHS England before the outcome of Lord Darzi’s investigation, or whether they made the decision afterwards?”

““Constant reorganisations are costly and distracting. They stop the NHS structures from focusing on their primary responsibility to raise the quality and efficiency of care in providers.””

“I remind Members of what Lord Darzi wrote in his independent investigation:”

“But the Government are doing cuts and reorganisation, so is it a toxic mix? If we have a change of Prime Minister, will this Bill proceed or not?”

““Cuts and reorganisation are a toxic mix.”—[Official Report, 12 December 2012; Vol. 555, c. 328.]”

“Sir Jeremy, you will be aware of the by-election that is occurring today. We know that, in the past, at least one of those candidates has made comments about NHS restructuring, suggesting that they are not terribly keen—indeed, comments such as:”

“Is it the Minister’s position that these health policy experts are misguided? Why is it that everyone outside Government thinks that the way this is being done may not deliver the benefits the public are being promised? I hope the Minister can answer that when she responds, because this is not just about the principle …”