Lords of the Blog

I’ve been fascinated to read other peers’ blogs, although trying not to rise to the Lord Norton’s bait about the most fanciable peers….(I naturally have a private list) but after reading Lord Dholakia’s diary week then seeing he has been running for charity I feel positively exhausted…I hope it’s doing him some good healthwise…. Health is back in my mind because today I learnt that the Health and Social Care Bill will have its second reading in the Lords on 25 March. A second reading is actually the first general debate around the Bill following its first passage through the Commons. The Bill is a very large mixed Bill about establishing a new big regulator and abolishes three organisations, two of which have only been in existence for three years, far too early in my view, especially when they seemed to me to be doing a splendid and improving job. But there are many other minor issues in the bill which will need scrutiny and therefore I need to make appointments to see the relevant Minister and talk with colleagues in the political parties to see what line they are taking. I shall be taking a major role in the Bill since its right on my subject. Looks as if I’ll be busy with this one for a while.