Barnet's MPs have spoken of how they will vote in a bill on the future of the NHS in parliament today.

The National Health Service (Amended Duties and Powers) Bill 2014-15, which has been brought forward by Labour MP Clive Efford, seeks to repeal key parts of the Government’s 2012 reforms of the NHS in England.

Supporters say the private members bill will halt what they claim is the further privatisation of the NHS.

Although it is unlikely to become law, it aims to remove competition requirements from the Health and Social Care Act 2012, and will re-establish the Secretary of State for Health’s legal duty to provide national health services in England.

Critics of the bill point out that Labour introduced greater competition in the NHS, and that six per cent of NHS spending goes to private providers, a similar level to that under the last government.

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer said he will not vote for the bill, and will not attend the debate.

Mr Freer said: “Private members’ bill days are on Fridays, the first of my constituency days. I have longstanding appointments in the constituency and an advice surgery. The bill is wrong and unnecessary.

“There is no privatisation of the NHS. I rely on the NHS, my family relies on the NHS. It is and will remain taxpayer-funded, free at the point of delivery with treatment decisions made by clinicians. Labour should be ashamed at this political posturing.”

Hendon MP Matthew Offord will miss the vote as he is away on select committee business. He was unable to comment.

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers said she would not support the bill, because it would mean an "unncessary upheaval of the NHS", which she said would undermine recent progress.

She added: "The Government is committed to the principles of the NHS - that care is free at the point of use based on need, not on the ability to pay. The reforms in our Health and Social Care Act did not change that. They did not privatise the NHS.

“This Government’s reforms strengthened the NHS, along with an investment of an extra £12.7 billion.  The Conservatives would continue this investment in the next Parliament so spending on the NHS would rise in every year in real-terms. This is only possible because our long term economic plan is working. A strong NHS needs a strong economy.”