Speeches by Smyth.

“I want to make some points first. I will pick up any outstanding points I do not cover. The abolition of HSSIB and the transfer of its functions to CQC is being done to strengthen the link between patient safety investigations and the action being taken on the frontline to simplify the patient safety landscape. We want…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for that. He and others on both sides of the House with clinical experience, including the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham, have shared live examples that can shock the layperson. It is important that those practices are changed clinically, and it is up to Government to make sure that …”

“Again, we have had an important discussion, particularly around the issue of independence; I accept that it is difficult and that there are arguments on both sides. We have heard a lot about Professor Croisdale-Appleby’s evidence on behalf of Healthwatch. I made this argument on Second Reading: we have had this arrange…”

“Apologies—I missed the exact question as to what needed to be changed. Could the hon. Lady repeat that?”

“Clause 65 ordered to stand part of the Bill.”

“Clause 65”

“Schedule 10 agreed to.”

“Finally, following its passage, we will undertake an evaluation of the Bill to provide objective and robust evidence for both learning and accountability. The learning element will feed directly into the development of services and the creation of an evidence base, and the accountability element will support further de…”

“My hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket spoke to new clause 74, which was tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby. That new clause raises some important issues around transparency, which I am passionate about and have often spoken about. The new patient experience directorate within the refor…”

“The Department provides approximately £3.3 million in funding each year to Healthwatch England, as a statutory committee of CQC, and we will continue to fund Healthwatch England as long it stays in place. For those reasons, I ask the hon. Member for North Shropshire not to press her new clause 78.”

“To ensure that these new arrangements are a success, effective oversight and transparency will be critical. That is already a key consideration in establishing the patient experience directorate, and the Bill includes additional key safeguards. First, integrated care boards will be required to publish an annual stateme…”

“Question put, That the clause stand part of the Bill.”

“At a national level, as part of the regulatory function of local authority adult social care commissioning, the CQC will also look at whether the statutory functions of local authorities are being met. Additionally, the Secretary of State will have a new power to direct ICBs on the exercise of their functions if that i…”

“The existing complaints regulations allow people to make a formal complaint to providers of services or to a commissioner of services, and ultimately to the appropriate ombudsman. Healthwatch has no statutory role in relation to complaints, so the abolition of Healthwatch services will therefore not affect the complain…”

“Clause 64 ordered to stand part of the Bill.”

“Schedule 9 agreed to.”

“Abolition of arrangements with Local Healthwatch organisations”

“Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.”

“I am sorry, but I did not get the end of that sentence. However, I think the hon. Lady was saying that the Bill essentially abolishes NHS England. Again, as I have said repeatedly, nobody is opposing that. As is well known, the recommendations on the maternity commissioner have come through a separate process. Given th…”

“Sitting suspended.”