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Cabinet members 'bang table' over Lords NHS win Cabinet members 'bang table' over Lords NHS win
(40 minutes later)
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.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 get Royal Assent and become law by Easter.The government hopes it will now get Royal Assent and become law by Easter.
Meanwhile, Labour have failed by 82 votes in a final bid to delay the bill's progress.Meanwhile, Labour have failed by 82 votes in a final bid to delay the bill's progress.
The party called a Commons emergency debate on the issue, but in the subsequent vote was defeated by 328 to 246.The party called a Commons emergency debate on the issue, but in the subsequent vote was defeated by 328 to 246.
The motion said MPs should not consider planned NHS changes for a final time before an assessment of the potential risks to the health service is published.The motion said MPs should not consider planned NHS changes for a final time before an assessment of the potential risks to the health service is published.
'No purpose''No purpose'
For Labour, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham appeared to concede the pasage of the bill into law was now going to happen, adding: "The only hope that I can give to people worried about the future of the NHS today is that this might be the end of the bill, but it is just the beginning of our campaign." For Labour, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham appeared to concede the passage of the bill into law was now going to happen, adding: "The only hope that I can give to people worried about the future of the NHS today is that this might be the end of the bill, but it is just the beginning of our campaign."
But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley told the Commons: "The truth is, this is political opportunism dressed up as principle. This is a debate for no purpose."But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley told the Commons: "The truth is, this is political opportunism dressed up as principle. This is a debate for no purpose."
MPs will now consider the amendments to the bill agreed by the Lords on Tuesday.MPs will now 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.