NHS stealth-privatisation – get an email in to the Lords!

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This is a quickie because there isn’t much time.

I just received notification from fellow blogger Steve Walker that today is the deadline for submission of evidence and concerns to the House of Lords ‘Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee’ (SLSC) to ask for a full Lords debate on the undemocratic attempt to force privatisation on the NHS via the new Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Steve has written an excellent analysis of the redrafted SI 257/2013 regulations, explaining why they are a minefield likely to push CCGs further into the privatisation trap than any other outcome. You can read it here.

Rather than waste time trying to do the same job twice, I have emailed the Lords to ask for a debate, referring them to the same articles. Here’s a copy of what I have written. I would suggest that anyone who has strong feelings on the subject could use this as a template to email the Lords themselves. Here’s the email address:

[email protected]

And here’s the text of my email:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I understand that you are looking for submissions regarding the government’s ‘section 75’ secondary legislation. May I add my voice to those asking for a full Lords debate on this undemocratic attempt to force privatisation on the NHS via the new Clinical Commissioning Groups?

I do not intend to provide supporting arguments myself but instead would like to refer you to an excellent blog article – http://ccgwatch.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/revised-section-75-regs-mire-ccgs-in-a-legal-minefield/ – by Steve Walker, written following a careful reading of the government’s revisions to SI 257/2013.

It identifies serious concerns with the legislation, which does nothing to change the substance of the original instrument – and in fact uses uncertainty as an additional tool to tie the hands of CCGs to include private bidders for health service contracts.

With regards.

Over to you.

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10 Comments

  1. Fiona Prothero March 14, 2013 at 3:38 pm - Reply

    I have sent a letter and the response (automatic) says “We are analysing these for presentation to the Committee at its meeting of 5th March and therefore cannot accept any responses after 12pm Tuesday 26th February”.

    • Mike Sivier March 14, 2013 at 6:10 pm - Reply

      That’s probably a mistake on their part. Aussieeh had a response that seems to refer to the correct dates.

  2. Thomas M March 14, 2013 at 4:33 pm - Reply

    It’s sad that we have to rely on the undemocratic House of Lords because our elected politicans all have their noes in the trough.

  3. clumie March 14, 2013 at 5:10 pm - Reply

    Done.

  4. aussieeh March 14, 2013 at 5:16 pm - Reply

    Done and Done
    Thank you for the draft here is a copy of the reply sent to me
    Thankyou for your email.
    The Committee is receiving many messages relating to SI 2013/500: National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No. 2) Regulations 2013. We are therefore unable to respond individually to them.
    We are analysing these for presentation to the Committee at its meeting of 19th March and therefore cannot accept any responses after close of play on Thursday 14th March.
    Thank you
    Mark Gladwell
    Committee Assistant to the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
    Legislation Office
    House of Lords

  5. jack johnson (@jackjoh01219520) March 14, 2013 at 5:53 pm - Reply

    I am doing my best not to be bitter, but how many Tory MPs have a financial interest
    in private health provision? 2 and 2 makes corruption. Councillors have far more restrictions on financial interest?

  6. Brian Lovett March 14, 2013 at 6:31 pm - Reply

    Nice One! Mike…

  7. Rob George March 14, 2013 at 6:51 pm - Reply

    Jack I’m afraid that though it’s mainly the Tories, the LibDems and Labour MPs to their shame also have considerable vested interests in privatisation of the NHS, as do many peers. We’re they outwith Westminster I suspect many would be investigated over conflicts of interest.
    What time is close of play in the Lords?

  8. rainbowwarriorlizzie March 15, 2013 at 11:15 pm - Reply

    Reblogged this on HUMAN RIGHTS & POLITICAL JOURNAL and commented:
    In Solidarity!!

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