Lords debates NHS care home payments

• Catch up on Parliament TV
• Read the transcript in Lords Hansard
• 47th report of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (PDF)
• What is a statutory instrument?
• What is a parliamentary motion?

National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) (Amendment) Regulations 2019

This statutory instrument (SI) increases the rates that the NHS pays to care homes to cover the costs of services that must be carried out by a registered nurse.

Baroness Thornton (Labour) proposed a motion to regret against the SI. The motion was on the basis that the "efficiency expectation" included in the rate increase is unrealistic and may lead to further shortfalls in social care funding. The motion also regretted that the government still does not have a long-term funding package for social care, which is urgently needed to alleviate financial instability in the care home sector.

This motion would not have stopped the SI, but, if agreed, would have provided an opportunity for the House to put its regret and agreement with Baroness Thornton's concerns on record.

After a short debate in the chamber, the motion was withdrawn.

How do these draft instruments become law?

These regulations were presented as a Statutory Instrument (SI). An Act will often contain a broad framework and statutory instruments are used to provide the necessary detail that would be too complex to include in the Act itself. They are also easier to change than an Act – for example to upgrade the rate of payment each year or amend the necessary forms in the light of experience.

Further information

• Visiting the House of Lords - Attend Lords debates
• Work of the House of Lords - Making laws
• Follow @UKHouseof Lords on Twitter 
• Like House of Lords on Facebook 
• Watch House of Lords videos on YouTube
• View House of Lords images on Flickr
• Connect with members on the Lords Digital Chamber

Image: PA