Speeches by Beales.

“Do you envisage other, broader changes to the national landscape? We are talking about NHS England and functions moving to the Department of Health, but obviously there are other national bodies and infrastructure—NHS Property, the CQC, the MHRA; the list of acronyms goes on longer than your arm. As well as changes int…”

“I think we have heard that there is a general view that they should be looked at and assessed by case.”

“Lastly, NHS England is a source of significant clinical leadership and clinical expertise. It hosts specialist clinical networks of various sorts and has national clinical directors. What is the future of those? Are they likely to shift to the Department? Are you seeing more of a local leadership model rather than nati…”

“Those clinical leaders at a national organisation presumably must drive clinical leadership.”

“In terms of highly specialised services, NHS England has traditionally taken a lead. There has been some movement back towards a local level, but many patients with highly specialised conditions sometimes worry that local leadership ultimately means local variation. If your ICB do not prioritise your specialised condit…”

“Thank you, Secretary of State. Lastly, the shift of this clinical knowledge, expertise and capacity is obviously evolving, but how will we ensure, in this time of change and flux for expertise and capacity, that work currently under way on specialist areas—the National Cancer Plan, the HIV Action Plan and other areas—i…”

“I note the desire to resist reorganisation of the NHS, but we kind of are undergoing a major reorganisation of the NHS. Having opened the box of NHS reform, is now not an opportunity to finally grasp some of the nettles that have not been grasped? Obviously, there is Baroness Casey’s review of social care taking place.…”

“Are there issues that you—”

“Diplomatically done. We know that that will be brought in legislation, but what other aspects of change to the system are you considering being part of that legislation, as well as formally abolishing NHS England?”

“Would you like to see it in the next King’s speech?”

“Thank you very much, Secretary of State, for your answers so far. In your letter to the Committee previously, you outlined the need for legislation primarily to formally abolish NHS England, which was established by legislation. I want to press you a bit more on the timing of possible legislation. Are we likely to see …”

“We have heard that the level of harm is comparable to alcohol—that was the previous panel’s summation. Professor Bowden-Jones, you have talked compellingly about the level of suicides related to gambling. Do you think we should be looking at similar restrictions on the advertising and marketing of gambling, particularl…”

“We heard compellingly from the previous panel, which I know you sat in on, about the need for shifting awareness about the realities of gambling, the harms, and for breaking down stigma related to approaching services for support if people are struggling with gambling addiction. The Government have also talked previous…”

“We heard quite compellingly from the previous panel about the role of advertising and marketing. Do you think the fact that 55% of Premier League clubs are now sponsored by gambling companies, and the proliferation of online advertising in all the forms we heard about, is aiding cultural change, improving understanding…”

“It’s an open question, really, to whoever feels most expert to answer.”

“I understand that 55% of Premier League clubs are now sponsored by gambling companies. It does not seem like many are volunteering at the moment.”

“That is really helpful. Thank you. Andrew and Tim, do you have anything to add? That was quite a comprehensive response about the things needed to support that cultural shift. Is there anything further that you think is needed to enable it?”

“You are telling us what you are already doing. Do you think that what you are already doing is enough to enable the cultural shift, or do you think more is needed? You are telling us what has happened.”

“Have you any sense that there has been a step down towards that deadline? It feels to me like they are stepping up, rather than stepping down.”

“Tim, would you like to come in on that?”