UK Parliament / Open data

Health and Social Care Bill

My Lords, I will speak to Amendments 213A and 213B, which are both probing amendments that concern the powers of the board with respect to clinical commissioning groups, and the all-round capacity-building of the clinical commissioning groups. Clearly, in their emerging, embryonic state they will need guidance, support and assistance. We hope that as they grow and improve, the need will decrease with time. However, when the need for growth and nurturing ends, the needs will change, new challenges will come along and there will be a constant need to ensure that clinical commissioning groups are able to draw on expertise in capacity-building. The amendments call on the board to offer this. Proposed new Section 14Z8(2) states: "““The assistance that may be provided includes … financial assistance””." That is already there. We propose to add, "““building and supporting capabilities””." We anticipate that the board will do this, perhaps through the local field forces that will be best placed. When the Bill was published, there was no provision. There was financial assistance and an undertaking to make available the services of the board to clinical commissioning groups, but it was not made absolutely clear what that meant and there was nothing specific about providing capacity-building. The amendment fills that gap. Will the Minister explain how it is anticipated that this could be provided? Is it expected that this should be commissioned by CCGs from the private sector?
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
733 c362-3 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
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