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There is an argument (which I would agree with) that states that MP's should have some work experience in "the real world" before entering parliament and that being "advisors" or even "non-executive directors" of operating businesses gives them that experience.
On the other hand there is something just very wrong about asking someone to make an impartial decision on something so important as reorganising a nations health, when that person has an absolute and unarguable vested interest in making the decision sway in one particular direction.
Its wrong, and its right that the media are starting to draw attention to this.
There is an argument (which I would agree with) that states that MP's should have some work experience in "the real world" before entering parliament and that being "advisors" or even "non-executive directors" of operating businesses gives them that experience.
On the other hand there is something just very wrong about asking someone to make an impartial decision on something so important as reorganising a nations health, when that person has an absolute and unarguable vested interest in making the decision sway in one particular direction.
Its wrong, and its right that the media are starting to draw attention to this.
After the success of the petition last week, 38 degrees are now doing "letters to your MP" This is to try and get the Risk Report published.
The Risk Report is one drawn up by civil servants about the risks and issues in the NHS reforms... so far, it has not been made public. Lansley says that's because it's supposed to be confidential and people might be wary of expressing opinions in future reports if they knew they were going to be made public. What utter bollox.
After the success of the petition last week, 38 degrees are now doing "letters to your MP" This is to try and get the Risk Report published.
The Risk Report is one drawn up by civil servants about the risks and issues in the NHS reforms... so far, it has not been made public. Lansley says that's because it's supposed to be confidential and people might be wary of expressing opinions in future reports if they knew they were going to be made public. What utter bollox.
Advice is what we seek when we already know the answer - but wish we didn't
I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me than a full-frontal lobotomy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ kirkstaller wrote: "All DNA shows is that we have a common creator."
cod'ead wrote: "I have just snotted weissbier all over my keyboard & screen"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "No amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin." - Aneurin Bevan
After the success of the petition last week, 38 degrees are now doing "letters to your MP" This is to try and get the Risk Report published.
The Risk Report is one drawn up by civil servants about the risks and issues in the NHS reforms... so far, it has not been made public. Lansley says that's because it's supposed to be confidential and people might be wary of expressing opinions in future reports if they knew they were going to be made public. What utter bollox.
Not much point in writing to mine, he's already made his feelings known in a letter to Simon Faull:
Mr Simon Faull Our Ref: CN/NHSDate: 16 February 2012
Dear Mr Faull,
Thank you for your email of 14th February. I’m afraid there is a great deal of confusion about what the “NHS risk register” is, some of it unfortunately engendered deliberately by lobbying organisations. Risk registers are standardly produced internal management documents within government departments, and are not released, partly because they may contain commercially sensitive information, and partly because they enable civil servants to discuss with ministers worst-case examples and necessary steps to mitigate them. In this respect, the one produced by the Department of Health is no different to any other, despite attempts to portray it as something both sinister and damning. There is a very strong argument that internal discussions in the process of policy formation should not be open to scrutiny, because it would prevent frank exchanges with the civil service which are necessary if policy is to be effectively produced. This is recognised in Freedom of Information legislation.
In this instance much of the information is in any case available in full in the impact assessment documents which accompanied publication of the current legislation, and in addition in a specific statement made to the House of Lords by the Health Minister.
I also note the hypocritical position of a shadow Secretary of State demanding the publication of a document which he personally prevented being revealed when in government. The vote next week can therefore, I’m afraid, only be considered shallow opportunism on the part of the opposition.
Yours sincerely, David Heath CBE MP
Mind you, the fat 2@ isn't going to know what's hit him, then next time he comes around pimping for votes
El Barbudo wrote:
After the success of the petition last week, 38 degrees are now doing "letters to your MP" This is to try and get the Risk Report published.
The Risk Report is one drawn up by civil servants about the risks and issues in the NHS reforms... so far, it has not been made public. Lansley says that's because it's supposed to be confidential and people might be wary of expressing opinions in future reports if they knew they were going to be made public. What utter bollox.
Not much point in writing to mine, he's already made his feelings known in a letter to Simon Faull:
Mr Simon Faull Our Ref: CN/NHSDate: 16 February 2012
Dear Mr Faull,
Thank you for your email of 14th February. I’m afraid there is a great deal of confusion about what the “NHS risk register” is, some of it unfortunately engendered deliberately by lobbying organisations. Risk registers are standardly produced internal management documents within government departments, and are not released, partly because they may contain commercially sensitive information, and partly because they enable civil servants to discuss with ministers worst-case examples and necessary steps to mitigate them. In this respect, the one produced by the Department of Health is no different to any other, despite attempts to portray it as something both sinister and damning. There is a very strong argument that internal discussions in the process of policy formation should not be open to scrutiny, because it would prevent frank exchanges with the civil service which are necessary if policy is to be effectively produced. This is recognised in Freedom of Information legislation.
In this instance much of the information is in any case available in full in the impact assessment documents which accompanied publication of the current legislation, and in addition in a specific statement made to the House of Lords by the Health Minister.
I also note the hypocritical position of a shadow Secretary of State demanding the publication of a document which he personally prevented being revealed when in government. The vote next week can therefore, I’m afraid, only be considered shallow opportunism on the part of the opposition.
Yours sincerely, David Heath CBE MP
Mind you, the fat 2@ isn't going to know what's hit him, then next time he comes around pimping for votes
I can't imagine there's any "commercially senstive information" in this one surely? After all, it's not as though they are privatising anything are they?
Advice is what we seek when we already know the answer - but wish we didn't
I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me than a full-frontal lobotomy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ kirkstaller wrote: "All DNA shows is that we have a common creator."
cod'ead wrote: "I have just snotted weissbier all over my keyboard & screen"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "No amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin." - Aneurin Bevan
Interesting lead article yesterday in City am. The Editor thought the government should drop the NHS reforms and sack Lansley as its a distraction from areas where they can make a difference. His view was that the the reform / no reform will make little difference either way to the NHS. He said the real issue won't go away and that the NHS will fall apart within 10 years as the country simply won't have the resources to fund it properly and tinkering about with these reforms will may no real difference to that prospect. Sadly, I fear he will be proved right.