The government's controversial NHS reforms have cleared their final reading in the House of Lords, paving the way for the bill to become law later this week. The legislation, which would abolish Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and give GPs greater control over budgets, has faced fierce opposition from medical professionals and Labour.
Labour has forced a 90-minute emergency debate in the Commons on Tuesday, before MPs consider the final amendments agreed by the Lords. Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham criticised the lack of access to the NHS transitional risk register, which calculates implementation risks, saying Parliament has a right to know the implications before making a final judgment.
In the Lords, crossbench peer Lord Owen called for a delay pending publication of the risk register, but his motion was defeated 328-213. Health Minister Earl Howe argued the bill had undergone unprecedented scrutiny and that publishing the register would breach confidentiality of official advice.
Peers rejected a Labour motion to drop the bill by 269-174, with only one Liberal Democrat rebel voting with Labour. The government has made concessions to limit competition and clarify the secretary of state's responsibilities, but insists the bill should proceed. Protests, including a candlelit vigil, have been held across the UK against the changes.
