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Cabinet members 'bang table' over Lords NHS win Cabinet members 'bang table' over Lords NHS win
(about 2 hours later)
Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers have "banged" the table at a cabinet meeting to mark the impending passing of the coalition's NHS reforms into law, Downing Street has said. Conservative and Lib Dem ministers have "banged" the table at a cabinet meeting to mark the impending passing of the NHS reforms into law, No 10 has said.
The Health and Social Care Bill, for England, has had a difficult passage through Parliament but was finally passed by the House of Lords on Monday.The Health and Social Care Bill, for England, has had a difficult passage through Parliament but was finally passed by the House of Lords on Monday.
The government hopes it will now enter law by Easter. The government hopes it will now get Royal Assent and enter law by Easter.
A Downing Street spokesman said "cross-party" celebrations had taken place. MPs are now taking part in an emergency Labour debate which calls for the bill's progress to be delayed.
But Labour have forced a Commons debate on Tuesday on whether MPs can consider planned NHS changes for a final time before an assessment of the potential risks to the health service is published. The debate says MPs should not consider planned NHS changes for a final time before an assessment of the potential risks to the health service is published.
GP budgetsGP budgets
Afterwards, MPs will consider the amendments to the bill agreed by the Lords on Tuesday.Afterwards, MPs will consider the amendments to the bill agreed by the Lords on Tuesday.
The legislation would abolish Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and give much greater control over care budgets and commissioning decisions to GPs and other health professionals.The legislation would abolish Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and give much greater control over care budgets and commissioning decisions to GPs and other health professionals.
The bill has been the subject of a prolonged battle over the past year - with professional bodies representing doctors, nurses and other NHS workers resisting the changes.The bill has been the subject of a prolonged battle over the past year - with professional bodies representing doctors, nurses and other NHS workers resisting the changes.
There has also been criticism from several leading Liberal Democrats of Conservative Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's plans.There has also been criticism from several leading Liberal Democrats of Conservative Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's plans.
But the prime minister's spokesman said there had been "cross-party banging" of the table at cabinet to mark the imminent Royal Assent for the legislation.But the prime minister's spokesman said there had been "cross-party banging" of the table at cabinet to mark the imminent Royal Assent for the legislation.
'Two-tier service''Two-tier service'
He added that it would become law before the Easter Recess, which starts next Tuesday.He added that it would become law before the Easter Recess, which starts next Tuesday.
But unions said they would not relent in their opposition to the bill once it becomes law.But unions said they would not relent in their opposition to the bill once it becomes law.
"We will continue to campaign hard to try and mitigate the worst excesses of this bill," said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, adding that ministers were ignoring the "groundswell of opposition" to the proposals."We will continue to campaign hard to try and mitigate the worst excesses of this bill," said Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, adding that ministers were ignoring the "groundswell of opposition" to the proposals.
"Patients will have a two-tier health service and where they live will determine the healthcare they receive.""Patients will have a two-tier health service and where they live will determine the healthcare they receive."
Members of Unison, which represents more than a million public sector workers, held a minute's silence outside Parliament in protest at the changes.Members of Unison, which represents more than a million public sector workers, held a minute's silence outside Parliament in protest at the changes.