Speeches by Johnson.

“However, that will also create new variations across the health system. Those are not always bad, but I am not sure how the Government can achieve greater autonomy for ICBs, lower health inequalities and reduced variation across the system simultaneously, especially when the Secretary of State has strong powers to inte…”

““design new models of care”.”

“In their policy paper, “ICBs as strategic commissioners”, the Government are clear that they want to encourage ICBs to innovate and”

“I return to the philosophical contradiction in the Bill. This reorganisation was meant to be about devolving power away from the centre, yet power at the centre—with the Secretary of State—is being strengthened, because ICBs, which are the devolved units in the system, are deemed to be underdelivering. From the Departm…”

“and he was clear that he wanted more. I am curious to know why NHS England has failed on that, given that it does have some powers over ICBs. Is the issue that NHS England has been asleep at the wheel, or that its powers are not strong enough? Will the Minister share her thoughts on that?”

““not taking on their full functions and implementing national guidance”,––[Official Report, Health Public Bill Committee, 16 June 2026; c. 44, Q72.]”

“What about the other 81%? Mr Cooper also said that ICBs were”

““19% of ICBs currently commission end-of-life care for children at home 24/7, provided by nurses and specialist consultants.””

“As we heard in the evidence session, there is variation in the system that leaves some patients in an unenviable position. James Cooper from Together for Short Lives said that”

“These changes could bring material benefits. If the Secretary of State—rather than an arm’s length body—has oversight, the Government could be more responsive to issues that emerge in the health system. The Department said in its memorandum to the Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee that the new gene…”

“That is pertinent to clinical pathways for particular services. Directions could also reduce “unwarranted variation”, including by “ensuring nationally consistent standards”.”

““set standards that ICBs must meet when exercising their commissioning functions… Directions can capture a level of detail that could not be included in primary or secondary legislation”.”

“Clause 11 would replace those sections of the 2006 Act with new powers exclusively for the Secretary of State. It is important to note that those new powers are broader in scope. Not only does the Secretary of State gain the power to direct ICBs that are failing or at risk of failure, but, through a new general power, …”

“Currently, ICBs are accountable to NHS England. Under sections 14Z61 and 14Z62 of the National Health Service Act 2006, NHS England is able to direct an ICB when it has failed to carry out its functions, is failing, or is at risk of failure. If failure were to occur, NHS England can, among other things, direct another …”

“”

“It is a pleasure to speak to clause 4 and this group of amendments. Health inequalities are commonly defined as the systemic differences in health status and distribution of health resources between different population groups. There are limits to how far the state can equalise health in a free society, but I am sure a…”

“I agree. The amendments include, in many cases, a statement of what someone’s job is. Does the Member who tabled them think that the Secretary of State is not doing his job and therefore needs to be told what his job is? That could create a whole load of bureaucracy detracting from the actual job in hand. Amendment 34 …”

“I beg to move amendment 59, in clause 5, page 4, leave out lines 2 to 4 and insert— “(1) In exercising functions in relation to the health service, the Secretary of State must act with a view to enabling patients to make choices with respect to aspects of health services provided to them, including to make choices as t…”

“This group is about how patients can exercise choice. When the national health service was founded in 1948, patients could select their own GP, but it was difficult to change things and exercise choice elsewhere in the system. The health service has come a long way since then. Successive Governments believed that they …”

“When I met surgeons, they said that one reason they like working in elective independent sector hospitals is that they can do more operations on a given day. The shadow Secretary of State visited a provider of cataract treatment yesterday. It is able to perform more treatments on a given day, partly for organisational …”