The Health and Social Care Bill has been introduced to Parliament.

The Bill will:

• Provide for a one off payment to all expectant mothers from the 29^th week of pregnancy
• Include new plans to provide all parents whose children take part in the National Child Measurement Programme with the results and healthy living advice
• Create a new Care Quality Commission. Wales retains the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales, with its powers of inspection and regulation under the Care Standards Act 2000. The Welsh Assembly Government will also acquire the functions of the Mental Health Act Commission.
• Update existing public health protection legislation to provide a comprehensive set of public health measures to help prevent and control the spread of serious diseases caused by infection and contamination.

The Bill and Explanatory Notes can both be downloaded from Parliament’s website.