Session 2010 - 12
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Other Bills before Parliament

Lords Amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill


 
 

31

 

Clause 234

243

Page 235, line 6, at end insert—

 

“( )    

But provision made under subsection (8) may impose a requirement on a

 

local authority, or a description of local authorities, only if the requirement

 

relates to—

 

(a)    

the exercise by an authority of any of its functions under section 2B

 

or 111 of, or paragraphs 1 to 7B or 13 of Schedule 1 to, the National

 

Health Service Act 2006;

 

(b)    

the exercise by an authority of any of its functions by virtue of

 

section 6C(1) or (3) of that Act;

 

(c)    

anything done by an authority in pursuance of arrangements under

 

section 7A of that Act.”

244

Page 235, line 8, leave out “other than a local authority”

Clause 240

245

Page 237, line 23, leave out “its functions” and insert “any function it has under or

 

by virtue of any other provision of this Part”

Clause 242

246

Page 238, line 11, at end insert—

 

“( )    

For the purposes of this section, a failure to discharge a function properly

 

includes a failure to discharge it consistently with what the Secretary of

 

State considers to be the interests of the health service in England or (as the

 

case may be) with what otherwise appears to the Secretary of State to be the

 

purpose for which it is conferred.”

Clause 246

247

Page 239, line 16, after “Consultation” insert “with any person”

Clause 247

248

Page 241, line 2, at end insert “or section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (after-

 

care)”

Clause 251

249

Page 242, line 13, leave out second “and” and insert “or”

250

Page 242, line 17, leave out from beginning to second “it” and insert “the Secretary

 

of State considers that the information which could be obtained by complying with

 

the direction is information which”

251

Page 242, line 25, leave out from “if” to “it” in line 26 and insert “the Board

 

considers that the information which could be obtained by complying with the

 

direction is information which”

252

Page 242, line 32, at end insert “or section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (after-

 

care)”

253

Page 242, line 38, at end insert—


 
 

32

 
 

“( )    

The Information Centre may charge the Board a reasonable fee in respect

 

of the cost of complying with a direction given by the Board under

 

subsection (1).”

Clause 252

254

Page 242, line 41, leave out second “and” and insert “or”

255

Page 242, line 43, leave out from beginning to “it” in line 44 and insert “A request

 

may be made under subsection (1) by a person only if the person considers that the

 

information which could be obtained by complying with the request is information

 

which”

256

Page 243, line 6, leave out from “Chapter” to “it” in line 9 and insert “a request

 

under subsection (1) is a mandatory request if—

 

(a)    

it is made by a principal body, and

 

(b)    

the body considers that the information which could be obtained by

 

complying with the request is information which”

257

Page 243, line 27, leave out “relevant” and insert “principal”

258

Page 243, line 28, after “to” insert—

 

“(i)    

the code of practice prepared and published by the Centre

 

under section (Code of practice on confidential information),

 

and

 

(ii)    

259

Page 243, line 30, leave out ““relevant” and insert ““principal”

After Clause 252

260

Insert the following new Clause—

 

“Requests for collection under section 252: confidential information

 

(1)    

A request under section 252 is a confidential collection request if it is a

 

request for the Information Centre to establish and operate a system for the

 

collection of information which is in a form which—

 

(a)    

identifies any individual to whom the information relates who is

 

not an individual who provides health care or adult social care, or

 

(b)    

enables the identity of such an individual to be ascertained.

 

(2)    

A person may make a confidential collection request under section 252 only

 

if the request—

 

(a)    

is a mandatory request,

 

(b)    

relates to information which the person making the request (“R”)

 

may require to be disclosed to R or to the Information Centre by the

 

person holding it, or

 

(c)    

relates to information which may otherwise be lawfully disclosed to

 

the Information Centre or to R by the person holding it.”

Clause 254

261

Page 244, line 18, leave out “that” and insert “any”

262

Page 244, line 22, leave out “collected pursuant to” and insert “obtained by


 
 

33

 
 

complying with”

263

Page 244, line 23, leave out “or information derived from such information,”

Clause 255

264

Page 244, line 37, at end insert—

 

“(2A)    

But the Information Centre may not impose a requirement under

 

subsection (1)(a) for the purpose of complying with a confidential

 

collection request falling within section (Requests for collection under section

 

252: confidential information)(2)(c).

 

(2B)    

In such a case, the Information Centre may, however, request any person

 

mentioned in subsection (2) to provide it with any information which the

 

Centre considers it necessary or expedient for the Centre to have for the

 

purpose of complying with the request.”

265

Page 244, line 44, at end insert—

 

“( )    

If the Information Centre considers it appropriate to do so, the Centre may

 

make a payment to any person mentioned in subsection (2)(b) who has

 

provided information to the Centre pursuant to a request made under

 

subsection (2B) in respect of the costs to that person of doing so.”

266

Page 245, line 2, leave out “subsection (1)” and insert “this section”

Clause 256

267

Page 245, line 16, leave out “collects pursuant to” and insert “obtains by complying

 

with”

268

Page 245, line 18, leave out “the following provisions of this section” and insert

 

“subsection (3)”

269

Page 245, line 39, leave out “collected pursuant to” and insert “obtained by

 

complying with”

270

Page 245, line 40, leave out “collects pursuant to” and insert “obtains by complying

 

with”

271

Page 246, line 1, leave out “collects pursuant to” and insert “obtains by complying

 

with”

Clause 257

272

Page 246, line 22, leave out “collects pursuant to” and insert “obtains by complying

 

with”

273

Page 246, line 29, after “and” insert “—

 

(i)    

the relevant person has consented to the dissemination, or

 

(ii)    

274

Page 246, line 31, at end insert—

 

“( )    

the information is in a form which identifies any individual to

 

whom the information relates who is not a relevant person or

 

enables the identity of such an individual to be ascertained and the

 

individual has consented to the dissemination;”

275

Page 246, line 40, at end insert—


 
 

34

 
 

“(3A)    

The Information Centre may also disseminate, in such form and manner

 

and at such times as it considers appropriate, any information which it

 

collects pursuant to a direction under section 251 or a request under section

 

252 (whether or not it falls within subsection (2)) to any person to whom the

 

information could have been lawfully disclosed by the person from whom

 

the Centre collected the information.

 

(3B)    

The Information Centre may also disclose information which it obtains by

 

complying with a direction under section 251 or a request under section 252

 

(whether or not it falls within subsection (2)) if—

 

(a)    

the information has previously been lawfully disclosed to the

 

public,

 

(b)    

the disclosure is made in accordance with any court order,

 

(c)    

the disclosure is necessary or expedient for the purposes of

 

protecting the welfare of any individual,

 

(d)    

the disclosure is made to any person in circumstances where it is

 

necessary or expedient for the person to have the information for

 

the purpose of exercising functions of that person conferred under

 

or by virtue of any provision of this or any other Act,

 

(e)    

the disclosure is made in connection with the investigation of a

 

criminal offence (whether or not in the United Kingdom), or

 

(f)    

the disclosure is made for the purpose of criminal proceedings

 

(whether or not in the United Kingdom).

 

(3C)    

Paragraphs (a), (b) and (f) of subsection (3B) have effect notwithstanding

 

any rule of common law which would otherwise prohibit or restrict the

 

disclosure.”

276

Page 246, line 41, leave out subsections (4) and (5)

277

Page 247, line 5, after “section” insert “or section (Dissemination: directions under

 

section 251 and requests under section 252)

278

Page 247, line 6, leave out from “it)” to first “any” in line 7 and insert “under or by

 

virtue of”

279

Page 247, line 8, leave out subsection (7)

280

Page 247, line 11, at end insert—

 

“( )    

For the purposes of this section and section (Dissemination: directions under

 

section 251 and requests under section 252) the provision by the Information

 

Centre of information which it has obtained by complying with a direction

 

under section 251 or a request under section 252 to the person who gave the

 

direction or made the request is to be treated as dissemination by the

 

Centre of that information to that person.”

After Clause 257

281

Insert the following new Clause—

 

“Other dissemination: directions under section 251 and requests under section

 

252

 

(1)    

A direction under section 251 may require the Information Centre to

 

disseminate information which it obtains by complying with the direction

 

if the information falls within subsection (2).


 
 

35

 
 

(2)    

Information falls within this subsection if—

 

(a)    

the information is required to be published under section 256;

 

(b)    

the information is in a form which identifies any relevant person to

 

whom the information relates or enables the identity of such a

 

relevant person to be ascertained and—

 

(i)    

the relevant person has consented to the dissemination, or

 

(ii)    

the person giving the direction, after taking into account the

 

public interest as well as the interests of the relevant person,

 

considers that it is appropriate for the information to be

 

disseminated;

 

(c)    

the information is in a form which identifies any individual to

 

whom the information relates who is not a relevant person or

 

enables the identity of such an individual to be ascertained and the

 

individual has consented to the dissemination;

 

(d)    

the Centre is prohibited from publishing the information only by

 

virtue of it falling within section 256(2)(c) and the person giving the

 

direction considers it would be in the public interest for the

 

information to be disseminated.

 

(3)    

A direction under section 251 may require the Information Centre to

 

exercise—

 

(a)    

the power conferred by section 257(3A) in relation to information

 

which it collects pursuant to the direction, or

 

(b)    

any other power it has under or by virtue of any other provision of

 

this Act (other than section 257(1) or (3B)) or any other Act to

 

disseminate information which it obtains by complying with the

 

direction.

 

(4)    

A request under section 252 may request the Information Centre to

 

exercise—

 

(a)    

the power conferred by section 257(1) or (3A) in relation to

 

information which it obtains by complying with the request, or

 

(b)    

any other power it has to disseminate such information under or by

 

virtue of any other provision of this or any other Act.

 

(5)    

A direction under section 251 may require, and a request under section 252

 

may request, the Information Centre not to exercise the power conferred by

 

section 257(1) or (3A) in relation to information which it obtains by

 

complying with the direction or request.

 

(6)    

Section 252(3) does not apply in relation to anything included in a

 

mandatory request by virtue of subsection (4) or (5).

 

(7)    

A requirement imposed on, or a request made to, the Information Centre in

 

accordance with this section to disseminate information may include a

 

requirement or request about the persons to whom the information is to be

 

disseminated and the form, manner and timing of dissemination.”

282

Insert the following new Clause—

 

“Code of practice on confidential information

 

(1)    

The Information Centre must prepare and publish a code in respect of the

 

practice to be followed in relation to the collection, analysis, publication

 

and other dissemination of confidential information concerning, or


 
 

36

 
 

connected with, the provision of health services or of adult social care in

 

England.

 

(2)    

For the purposes of this section “confidential information” is—

 

(a)    

information which is in a form which identifies any individual to

 

whom the information relates or enables the identity of such an

 

individual to be ascertained, or

 

(b)    

any other information in respect of which the person who holds it

 

owes an obligation of confidence.

 

(3)    

Before publishing the code, the Information Centre must consult—

 

(a)    

the Secretary of State,

 

(b)    

the Board, and

 

(c)    

such other persons as the Centre considers appropriate.

 

(4)    

The Information Centre must not publish the code without the approval

 

of—

 

(a)    

the Secretary of State, and

 

(b)    

the Board, so far as the code relates to information concerning, or

 

connected with, the provision of NHS services.

 

(5)    

The Information Centre must keep the code under review and may revise

 

it as it considers appropriate (and a reference in this section to the code

 

includes a reference to any revised code).

 

(6)    

A health or social care body must have regard to the code in exercising

 

functions in connection with the provision of health services or of adult

 

social care in England.

 

(7)    

A person, other than a public body, who provides health services, or adult

 

social care in England, pursuant to arrangements made with a public body

 

exercising functions in connection with the provision of such services or

 

care must, in providing those services or that care, have regard to the code.”

Clause 258

283

Page 247, line 14, leave out “collected” and insert “obtained”

Clause 259

284

Page 247, line 31, leave out “other”

285

Page 247, line 32, leave out “other”

Clause 264

286

Page 249, line 37, leave out “its functions” and insert “any function under or by

 

virtue of any other provision of this or any other Act”

Clause 266

287

Page 250, line 25, at end insert—

 

“( )    

For the purposes of this section, a failure to discharge a function properly

 

includes a failure to discharge it consistently with what the Secretary of

 

State considers to be the interests of the health service in England or (as the


 
 

37

 
 

case may be) with what otherwise appears to the Secretary of State to be the

 

purpose for which it is conferred.”

Clause 268

288

Page 251, line 2, at end insert—

 

“(d)    

requiring the Centre to exercise such systems delivery functions of

 

the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the Board as may be

 

specified.”

289

Page 251, line 2, at end insert—

 

“( )    

A function required to be exercised by a direction given by the Secretary of

 

State or the Board by virtue of subsection (1) is subject to directions given

 

by the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the Board about the exercise

 

of the function.”

290

Page 251, line 19, at end insert—

 

“( )    

A power conferred on the Secretary of State under subsection (1)(d) must

 

provide that a direction may include provision about payments by the

 

Secretary of State to the Information Centre for things done in the exercise

 

of the function in respect of which the direction is given.

 

( )    

A power conferred on the Board under subsection (1)(d) must provide that

 

a direction must permit the Information Centre to charge the Board a

 

reasonable fee in respect of the cost of complying with the direction.

 

( )    

A power conferred under subsection (1)(d) must provide that the giving of

 

a direction does not prevent the Secretary of State or (as the case may be)

 

the Board from exercising the function in respect of which the direction is

 

given.”

291

Page 251, line 24, at end insert—

 

““systems delivery function”—

 

(a)    

in relation to the Secretary of State, means a function of the

 

Secretary of State which is exercisable in relation to the

 

development or operation of information or

 

communications systems in connection with the provision

 

of health services or of adult social care in England;

 

(b)    

in relation to the Board, means a function of the Board

 

which is exercisable in relation to the development or

 

operation of information or communications systems in

 

connection with the provision of NHS services.”

Clause 288

292

Page 261, line 30, at end insert—

 

“(5)    

For the purposes of this section a failure to discharge a function

 

properly includes a failure to discharge it consistently with what

 

the Secretary of State considers to be the interests of the health

 

service in England or (as the case may be) with what otherwise

 

appears to the Secretary of State to be the purpose for which it is

 

conferred; and “the health service” has the same meaning as in the

 

National Health Service Act 2006.””


 
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