Charles Walker supports changes which strengthen the Bill to ensure that the careers of health care workers are not damaged by malicious or untrue allegations.

Mr. Charles Walker (Broxbourne) (Con): I have great sympathy with the Minister on that point because unsubstantiated allegations can ruin people's lives. What would be the process for ascertaining whether they were indeed unsubstantiated?

Mr. Bradshaw: That will depend on the evidence.

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Mr. Walker: Perhaps my hon. Friend can help me. An allegation is an allegation. What in the Bill will protect members of the clinical professions from having allegations made against them? Surely the person making the allegation must be made aware that if the allegation is malicious, they will face legal action.

Mr. O'Brien: I am most grateful to my hon. Friend, who makes a powerful point. We in this House must be supremely conscious to ensure that justice can be done, and can be seen to be done. We are talking about a quasi-judicial area, and it is of course important not to discourage whistleblowing, which is one of the best sources of information. The Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), and I have been asked the question: what does one do to guard against those who might be minded to make a malicious allegation? There are people who might be keen to do so, because of career jealousy or personal angst. What would be the threat against those who knew that they had done something wrong? The answer is not in the Bill. The Bill rightly ensures that information can be provided, and it could be malicious or non-malicious. If it is non-malicious, that is fine, and the allegation will be examined.

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