UK Parliament / Open data

[2nd Allocated Day]

Proceeding contribution from Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 7 September 2011. It occurred during Debate on bills on Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill.

No, he will not have powers of direction. Of course, powers of direction are not subject to any form of parliamentary scrutiny and can be issued by a Secretary of State on their fiat. In future, this House, through regulations, will be able to look at and agree to—or not—standing rules that in most effects will have the ability to direct clinical commissioning groups and the NHS commissioning board on a wide range of matters. I direct the hon. Gentleman to clause 17, which sets those out at great length.