THE House rose for the summer recess yesterday so it is appropriate to reflect on the past year.

It has become obvious that a Government with a huge majority cannot be forced easily to alter course.

However, it did change its mind in the NHS Reform Bill over the abolition of Community Health Councils (CHCs) by strengthening Primary Care Trust Patient Forums so that they could become effectively the 'one-stop shop' for patients and citizens that was such a crucial feature of a typical CHC.

This change of mind was forced by a House of Lords' amendment backed up by a backbench Labour revolt.

In stark contrast every Lords' amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Bill was opposed by the Government because there was no backbench revolt.

A Standing Committee which is called to work on a Bill at the Committee Stage is unlikely to make changes against the Government's wishes because such a committee divides on party lines in the presence of party whips.

The place of Parliamentary Select Committees as independent scrutiny bodies must be preserved at all costs as these can exert strong critical pressure on Government Departments.

The Health Select Committee on which I have the privilege to serve has published three reports in the last 12 months.

The report on the role of the private sector in the NHS contained valuable warnings about the involvement of the private sector in providing NHS services and buildings.

These were unfortunately overshadowed by disagreement on the committee, in my view unjustified, about the value of evidence from University College London that was so helpful to us in exposing the true costs and bed provision at the Worcestershire Private Finance Initiative Hospital.

Academic argument against Government policy that cannot be countered by frank discussion may be labelled as campaigning material and then risks systematic rubbishing without adequate reason.

A report on the functions of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence exposed this body's neglect of respected sources of advice such as the British National Formulary and the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin and also demonstrated flaws in the appeals mechanism.

The most recent report on the causes of delayed discharges from hospital will draw important lessons and conclusions to a wide audience.

Two problems for a single Independent MP are firstly, in a division you do not have a whip to follow so you have to make up your own mind how to vote. Secondly you cannot be in two places at once and so there are hard choices to be made between debates and committee or other group meetings.

The year has been a challenge, a unique privilege but very enjoyable thanks to unfailing support from so many people.