Health Bill [HL]

My Lords, I take the rap over the knuckles about the drafting of the amendment. I have to admit that I did it in rather a hurry and I completely confess my sins. I am slightly disappointed by the Minister’s reply. She was gracious enough to say that the Government recognise that this is an issue that we have to tackle. It is a pity that there has to be widespread public debate about it, because I think that the public view is fairly settled. Of course, there are noble Lords, some of whom may be present, who would not agree with that. However, the point of building in a regulation-making power to the amendment was to enable the regulations to set out those matters that the Government felt should apply to any exemption or departure from the current rules. I say to the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, that that regulation-making power would enable the kind of principles that she articulated to be built into the rules. I have a lot of sympathy with what she said on that score. Between now and Third Reading, a number of us could confer on how best to take this matter forward—whether we do so in the context of this Bill or not, I do not know. However, in view of the hour, it is appropriate for me now to beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 72 withdrawn. Amendments 73 and 74 not moved.