Saima Khan, Policy Officer

The House of Lords have now decided on two crucial amendments which would have resulted in the Health and Social Care Bill being delayed further or more so blocked entirely.

Peers voted 330 to 262 against an amendment which would have resulted in parts of the bill scrutinised in more detail at a special select committee. They also rejected Lord Rea's amendment to block the bill altogether. This was rejected by 354 votes to 220.

The Bill will now move to the committee stage and will be discussed in further detail on 25 October 2011.