NHS Redress Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for his very considerable attempt to satisfy us on why these amendments do not satisfy him. However, some of the key issues that worry both the noble Earl and us on our Benches have not been addressed. The key one here is about independence. I simply cannot see how it can be possible for the NHS Litigation Authority, which is in no sense seen as independent, to be the body that takes charge of the scheme as a whole. Nor does it seem that the Minister has really taken on board what the Prime Minister said about the Child Support Agency, where again you have a problem because all the stages are held by one agency. That simply is not a satisfactory way of doing things. We feel very strongly that there needs to be independence in how this is thought about and dealt with. When the Bill gets to the next stage, we on our Benches are not wholly opposed to moving towards some kind of financial redress when it is needed. That should be sitting with a separate grouping. I hear absolutely what the Minister says about the Healthcare Commission not wishing to take this on and seeing it as a conflict with its role in complaints. However, I regard it as a much more serious issue that the overarching body should be the NHS Litigation Authority, which has a very specific responsibility in being linked thoroughly to the NHS and wanting to limit the amount of compensation that is given. In my view that will not do. I think that we are likely to press this further.