[2nd Allocated Day]

I apologise for not being present for the first half hour of this debate. I was in the Environmental Audit Committee, where I had specifically asked for certain witnesses to be invited, and I have not yet worked out how to be in two places at once, although it is on my list. I will make a few general points about this part of the Bill before turning to a couple of the amendments that are in my name. I echo the many concerns that have been expressed around the Chamber this afternoon. Many of us argue that there is no legal duty on the Government to provide health services. The new hands-off clause limits the Government's ability to intervene should health care provision be deemed inadequate, because it says that clinical commissioning groups, the new agents of health provision that can include private companies, must be free to exercise powers and duties without ““unnecessary burdens””. I am equally concerned that the powers and duties of a commissioning group, including its ability to award contracts and charge for commercial activities, could be exercised by a private health care company. The Bill opens the way for private companies to determine much of English health care and takes away the Government's duties and powers, which is why I believe it should be opposed. I should like to say a few words about a couple of amendments in my name, starting with amendment 48. It offers Members the chance to return the NHS to its core ideals by making all health services in the UK, including dental care, eye care and prescriptions, free at the point of delivery based on each individual's needs and not their ability to pay. I am sure some Members will say that the argument was lost some 60 years ago, but I argue that, unfortunately, the facts show that returning the NHS to being a fully free service is as important as ever. In 2008, an Ipsos MORI poll for Citizens Advice revealed that about 800,000 people in England had failed to collect a prescription because of the cost involved. An Asthma UK survey found that 34% of people who had to pay for their asthma medication sometimes chose not to take some of their treatment because of the expense. Research published by Rethink in 2008 showed that 38% of people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia had to choose between paying household bills and paying prescription charges. Despite 85% of us admitting that we have problems with our vision, 37% are put off having a sight test because of worries about money. That shocking statistic shows the extent to which fear of cost is as much of a barrier as actual cost, as more than 30 million people in the UK are entitled to free eye care paid for by the NHS and many more are entitled to free eye care paid for by their employer. The result of that confusion is that more than 20 million people are putting their sight at risk by failing to have regular sight tests.