NHS Redress Bill [HL]

I would like to pursue this matter a little. In the NHS, we have a history of explanations being anything but full—for instance, when explanations are given when a complaint is made—and for there to be a certain amount of defensive practice on the part of some, not all, NHS bodies. We accept that the thinking behind the Bill is to encourage a culture of openness. It therefore seems right not to leave this to regulations, but to put it on the face of the Bill precisely in order to encourage those who do not wish to give an absolutely full explanation. There are circumstances where, for reasons of confidentially, that may not be possible. But I press the Minister a little further on this. We have examples of practice on complaints which suggest that the inclination is not to give a full explanation when the opportunity arises.