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  Health and Social Care Bill - Lords Amendments - Access to NICE Approved Drugs - Improved Clarity
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  @ MP voted aye to ensure patients would continue to have access to NICE-approved drugs and treatments, whether NHS or local authority funded and to improve the clarity and functionality of the Health and Social Care Bill.
  @ MP voted no against ensuring patients would continue to have access to NICE-approved drugs and treatments, whether NHS or local authority funded and against improving the clarity and functionality of the Health and Social Care Bill.
  
  The majority of MPs voted to ensure patients would continue to have access to NICE-approved drugs and treatments, whether NHS or local authority funded, as well as to improve the clarity of the Health and Social Care Bill via a set of largely technical amendments intended to improve its clarity and to also make changes required as a consequence of the reorganisations to the NHS provided for in the Bill. 
  
  The text of the approved motion was:
  :That this House agrees with Lords amendments[1] 12, 43 to 53, 61, 62, 168 to 241, 243 to 245, 247, 249 to 251, 253 to 286, 288 to 291, 327, 333, 334 and 366 to 374.
  
  Explanatory notes[2] have been produced covering each of these amendments. 
  
  * Amendment 12 gives powers to the Secretary of State to make arrangements relating to weighing and measuring children. 
  * Amendments 43 to 53 relate to local authority directors of public health and related local government provisions, including giving the Secretary of State powers to exempt local government from a requirement to consult on terminating fluoridation schemes; the Secretary of State's direction making powers are limited to specific cases. 
  * Amendments 61 and 62 give the Secretary of State or the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland powers in relation to [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2012/0092/lbill_2010-20120092_en_10.htm#pt2-l1g54 clause 54 of the bill] which relates to standards for the purity and potency of biological substances.
  * Amendments 168 to 241 relate to the establishment of Local Healthwatch organisations, make drafting changes, including for clarity, changes to the detail of the provisions related to local government scrutiny committees and Health and Wellbeing Boards.
  * Amendments 243 to 244 are designed to ensure patients would continue to have access to NICE-approved drugs and treatments, whether NHS or local authority funded.
  * Amendment 245 is intended to improve the clarity of provisions describing circumstances in which NICE may exercise additional functions under [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2012/0092/lbill_2010-20120092_en_25.htm#pt8-pb4-l1g240 clause 240(1)]  
  * Amendment 247 is a clarification that "Consultation" in [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2012/0092/lbill_2010-20120092_en_25.htm#pt8-pb5-l1g246 Clause 246(6) means "Consultation with any person"]
  * Amendments 249 to 251 and  253 to 286 are clarifications of the powers of the to direct the NHS Information Centre to establish information systems; they also require the NHS Information Centre to issue codes of practice  on how to deal with person identifiable or other confidential information; and limit the powers of the centre to require personally identifiable information be provided to it. 
  * Amendments 288 to 291 Allow regulations to be made in relation to the powers of the Secretary of State or the NHS Commissioning Board to direct the NHS Information Centre.
  * Amendment 327 adds the director of public health to the list of statutory chief officers whose posts are "politically restricted". 
  * Amendments 333 and 334 amend licensing laws to reflect the new NHS structure. 
  * Amendments 366 to 374 relate to the detail of how Local Healthwatch organisations are established; remove a provision to disqualify members of NICE and the NHS Information Centre from membership National Assembly for Wales; and ensure property and staff transfer under the Bill includes the  NHS Business Services Authority and the NHS Information Centre. 
   
  ==
  
  * [1] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2010-2012/0321/12321.1-4.html Lords Amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill - published on the 19th of March 2012]
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2010-2012/0321/en/2012321en.htm Explanatory Notes to the Lords Amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill]
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  