Health Bill [HL]

I am grateful for the intervention of the noble Baroness in relation to the CQC’s role after a draft report has been issued by the trust special administrator. New Section 65N makes it clear that the guidance will make reference to, ""(a) persons to be consulted;""(b) factors to be taken into account;""(c) relevant publications"." I expect the trust special administrator to engage directly with the CQC where appropriate, and the guidance will support that. However, the issue is whether the trust special administrator should consult the CQC before the report is published. The noble Baroness makes the important point about the service in question being registered; I cannot see the logic of the administrator not consulting the CQC while the draft is being put together to ensure that it at least has the buy-in of the regulator before the report is published. I think that I made it clear that once this is triggered, it is a performance rather than a quality issue, but if the report concerns reconfiguring services, no doubt bodies such as the independent reconfiguration panel will have more information about how services should be run. I hope that through the process itself, a high regard will be given to the registration requirements of the regulator before the draft report is put together—not only the regulator, but also the commissioners involved in issuing it. I hope that my explanation about the operation of the scheme reassures the noble Baroness. I have no doubt that we shall debate this further, but I hope that she will feel able to withdraw the amendment.