Personal Care at Home Bill

My Lords, I speak as somebody who supports the Bill and I am therefore somewhat confused by this group of amendments, although for a different reason from that given by the noble Lord who has just spoken. I do not support the amendment moved by the noble Earl, Lord Howe, but I support Amendment 29, which provides for a transition between one local authority and another. I think that was part of the Government’s original intention when we discussed the Bill earlier. However, the rest of the amendments in the group, and particularly the Question whether Clause 1 should stand part, cut right across the general intent of the Bill, and I certainly would not be in favour of that. As I said at Second Reading, I support the intention of the Bill; I support what the Government want to do for these—mostly elderly—people who are in the neediest group. This is, I understand, a first step towards a much bigger national care programme, which I think many of us in this House would fully support. In the mean time, I support the Bill and therefore cannot support the amendments in this group, except Amendment 29.