Remaining stages of Health and Social Care Bill
8 September 2011
The House of Commons held the second day of the report stage and third reading of the Health and Social Care Bill on Wednesday 7 September. The first day was held on Tuesday 6 September.
MPs considered New Clauses and amendments to the Bill. The Bill also received its third reading after a division (vote) and passed (Ayes 316; Noes 251) and will now be considered by the House of Lords.
Day one: Tuesday 6 September
Watch and read the first day of report stage proceedings on the Health and Social Care Bill on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard.
- Parliament TV: Report stage of Health and Social Care Bill, day one
- Commons Hansard: Report stage of Health and Social Care Bill, day one
Day two: Wednesday 7 September
Watch and read the second day of the report stage and third reading proceedings on the Health and Social Care Bill on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard.
- Parliament TV live: Report stage of Health and Social Care Bill, day two
- Commons Hansard: Report stage of Health and Social Care Bill, day two
- Parliament TV: Third reading of Health and Social Care Bill
- Commons Hansard: Third reading of Health and Social Care Bill
Summary of the Bill
The Bill proposes to create an independent NHS Board, promote patient choice, and to reduce NHS administration costs.
Key areas
- establishes an independent NHS Board to allocate resources and provide commissioning guidance
- increases GPs’ powers to commission services on behalf of their patients
- strengthens the role of the Care Quality Commission
- develops Monitor, the body that currently regulates NHS foundation trusts, into an economic regulator to oversee aspects of access and competition in the NHS
- cuts the number of health bodies to help meet the Government's commitment to cut NHS administration costs by a third, including abolishing Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities.
Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation on the Health and Social Care Bill. Also find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.
Progress of the Bill
The Health and Social Care Bill was first introduced into the House of Commons on 19 January 2011 and received a second reading on 31 January 2011. The Bill was then considered by a Public Bill Committee from 8 February to 31 March 2011.
On 4 April 2011 the Secretary of State for Health made a statement to the House of Commons announcing that there would be a break in the passage of the Bill. The Government set up an independent group to review the Health and Social Care Bill known as the NHS Future Forum. The group reported its findings and recommendations to the Government on 13 June 2011.
On 21 June the Health and Social Care Bill was re-committed to the Public Bill Committee for further consideration which took place from 28 June to 14 July 2011.
The Bill was considered at report stage for two days on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 September 2011 and third reading took place on Wednesday 7 September.
- Commons news: Second reading of Health and Social Care Bill (31 January 2011)
- Commons news: Statement on NHS reform (4 April 2011)
- Commons news: Statement on NHS Future Forum (14 June 2011)
- Commons news: Recommittal of Health and Social Care Bill (21 June 2011)
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library produce briefing papers to inform MPs of key issues. The Library has published briefing papers for second reading and report stage.
- Commons Library briefing paper: Health and Social Care Bill, second reading report
- Commons Library briefing paper: Health and Social Care Bill, committee stage report
- Commons Library briefing paper: Health and Social Care Bill, committee stage (re-committed) report
Report stage and third reading
The report stage gives MPs an opportunity, on the floor of the House, to consider further amendments (proposals for change) to a Bill which has been examined in committee.
There is no set time period between the end of committee stage and the start of the report stage.
What happens at report stage?
All MPs may speak and vote, for lengthy or complex Bills the debates may be spread over several days. All MPs can suggest amendments to the Bill or new clauses (parts) they think should be added.
What happens after report stage?
Report stage is usually followed immediately by debate on the Bill's third reading.
What happens at third reading?
Debate on the Bill is usually short, and limited to what is actually in the Bill, rather than, as at second reading, what might have been included.
Amendments (proposals for change) cannot be made to a Bill at third reading in the Commons.
At the end of the debate, the House decides (votes on) whether to approve the third reading of the Bill.
What happens after third reading?
If the Bill started in the Commons it goes to the House of Lords for its first reading.