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Not specified in the provided text - Clause being read a Second time
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Karin Smyth
Debate Type
Bill Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 24
At a Glance
Karin Smyth raised concerns about not specified in the provided text - clause being read a second time in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Karin Smyth, a Labour MP for Bristol South, moved that the clause be read a Second time. The specific details of the amendment and its implications are not provided in the given text.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Bristol South
Karin Smyth moved that the clause be read a Second time, but no further details on the specifics of the amendment or its purpose are given in the provided text.
Jim Allister
Con
North Antrim
Jim Allister questioned the compatibility of the proposed licensing programme with the UK Internal Market Act 2020, Section 45B, which promises no further export procedures that could harm intra-UK trade.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Bernard Jenkin requested an intervention from the Minister regarding the licensing programme proposed in new clause 94.
Judith Cummins
Lab
Bradford South
Responded to interventions from other MPs, focusing on the importance of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSSIB) and the concern that the CQC chief executive could potentially misuse safe space information when inspecting hospitals. She also questioned the lack of clarity on when the CQC would be ready to integrate HSSIB.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Supports the Government’s ambitions on cancer but calls for the acceptance of new clauses to establish a national framework of metrics for radiotherapy and to require an annual report on radiotherapy access and waiting times. He highlights the need for a cross-party effort to improve access to radiotherapy and reduce waiting times, noting that only 35% of cancer patients received radiotherapy in 2021. He also emphasises that radiotherapy is a specialised service delivered from limited centres and requires a skilled workforce and physical infrastructure.
Agrees with the speaker that ethnic inequalities in cancer outcomes and access to treatment should be included in the suggested review.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Supports the speaker’s arguments and adds that in Lancashire and south Cumbria, only 29% of cancer patients get access to radiotherapy. He notes the Government’s target of 85% of patients being treated within 62 days but highlights that only 41% of patients who are recommended radiotherapy get treated within that time frame. He argues for the mandatory treatment within two months to ensure the best chance of survival.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
Brecon and Radnorshire
She emphasises the importance of maintaining patient safety mechanisms, including Healthwatch and HSSIB, and argues against their proposed abolition. She highlights the need for improved whistleblowing routes and timely cancer treatment. She also addresses the severe A&E waiting times and corridor care crisis, stressing the need for urgent action to end corridor care and launch an independent inquiry. She criticises the government for not investigating the impact of A&E waiting times on excess deaths, and expresses disappointment with the official opposition for not prioritising the vote on retaining Healthwatch.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon
She supports new clause 159, which aims to address the long-standing omission in the health service regarding parity of esteem between physical and mental health. She argues for the need to measure and report mental health waiting times and funding, to ensure that mental health services receive the same attention as physical health services. She highlights the severe impact of the current lack of parity on patients and calls for the Government to implement this new clause to achieve true parity of esteem.
Gosport
Proposes new clause 41 to regulate the funeral sector, citing the need for oversight due to cases like Elkin and Bell and Robert Bush. Emphasises the importance of protecting grieving families from unregulated businesses and the need for a register to ensure oversight.
Amanda Martin
Con
Gillingham and Rainham
Intervenes to support Caroline Dinenage's call for robust regulation, noting that reputable funeral directors are in favour of such measures.
Stuart Andrew
Con
Pudsey
Intervenes to support Caroline Dinenage's proposal, referencing Donna Ockenden’s report on the issues faced in Nottingham's mortuary.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Bernard Jenkin supported amendments 1 to 4, which seek to remove the abolition of HSSIB from the Bill. He argued that the Government had failed to make a case for removing the safety investigation function, suggesting that the body's role in holding the health system accountable was crucial.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Bristol South
Karin Smyth indicated dissent, but her specific position and arguments are not detailed in the provided text.
Jeff Smith
Lab
Manchester, Withington
Jeff Smith proposed new clauses 86 and 87 to promote patient involvement, patient choice, and innovation in psychedelic-assisted therapy treatments. He highlighted growing international research supporting the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic drugs for PTSD, trauma, and mental health issues, and argued for regulatory changes to facilitate such research and compassionate access to treatment.
Anna Sabine
Lab
Nottingham East
Anna Sabine spoke to new clauses 116 and 117, advocating for the assessment of medical cannabis availability for children on the NHS and a strategy to tackle waiting times and unequal access to speech and language therapy. She used her personal experience of vocal cord paralysis to illustrate the challenges faced by those with voice loss and emphasised the need for equitable access to speech therapy.
Adrian Ramsay intervened to raise concerns about the potential risks of ceasing Healthwatch's statutory functions without a suitable alternative in place, citing the CEO of Healthwatch Norfolk.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Bernard Jenkin requested to intervene but no specific argument was provided in the given text.
Freddie Van Mierlo requested to intervene but no specific argument was provided in the given text.
Deirdre Costigan intervened to thank the Minister and congratulated her on her birthday. She agreed with the Minister that the changes in the Bill would help bring down waiting lists and address corridor care issues.
Rachel Taylor requested to intervene but no specific argument was provided in the given text.
Mark Sewards questioned the Minister about the Prime Minister's statement in July regarding the need to regulate the sector, and highlighted the importance of addressing the issue as a priority.
He intervened to raise the issue of dementia and the need to bring scattered data on dementia into a single place to drive progress on early diagnosis and treatment. He highlighted the importance of this priority for the Government.
Damian Hinds
Con
East Hampshire
He welcomed the Secretary of State back to the Department but expressed concern about the lack of detail behind a large IT project and the removal of patient voice. He noted the numerous top-down reorganisations of the NHS since 1974 and questioned the efficacy of this approach.
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