Department of Health and Social Care
We support ministers in leading the nation’s health and social care to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer.
Secretary of State
Matt Hancock
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Ministers of State
Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)Nadine Dorries - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Edward Argar - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Jo Churchill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)Lord Bethell - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Nadhim Zahawi - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Information Resources: Departmental Overview: Department of Health and Social Care 2019 - DHSC annual report and accounts: 2019 to 2020 -
Latest News (from Department Twitter Feed)
- 16 Apr 2021, 5:38 p.m.
- The JCVI has advised that pregnant women should be offered the #COVID19 vaccination at the same time as everyone else, based on age and clinical risk. There have been no specific safety concerns from COVID-19 vaccines in relation to pregnancy. More: https://t.co/NRsSNY3xcW https://t.co/nhvkXXHmDG - Link
- 14 Apr 2021, 5:46 p.m.
- We are running a consultation on making Covid vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes to protect those most at risk in our society. The consultation closes on 21 May. Have your say: https://t.co/ym1jnDnLvl - Link View All Department of Health and Social Care Tweets
Department of Health and Social Care Commons Appearances
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:- Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
- Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
- Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.
Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 13 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| Mar. 09 | Urgent Questions | Covid-19: Government’s Publication of Contracts |
| Apr. 14 | Written Statements | Covid-19 Vaccination Update |
| Mar. 24 | Westminster Hall | NHS Pay |
| Apr. 13 | Adjournment Debate | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Pandemic |
Department of Health and Social Care - Bills and Acts in the Current Session
A Bill to confer power to amend or supplement the law relating to human medicines, veterinary medicines and medical devices; make provision about the enforcement of regulations, and the protection of health and safety, in relation to medical devices; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 11th February 2021 and was enacted into law.
To make provision regarding the funding of the health service in England in respect of each financial year until the financial year that ends with 31 March 2024.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Monday 16th March 2020 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision in connection with coronavirus; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Wednesday 25th March 2020 and was enacted into law.
Department of Health and Social Care - Laid Secondary Legislation
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
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Laid 9 Apr 2021 In Force 12 Apr 2021 |
Department of Health and Social Care |
Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps and Local Authority Enforcement Powers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Made affirmative procedure |
| These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021 (“Steps Regulations”), to move England from the Step 1 area to the Step 2 area, so that the restrictions set out in Schedule 2 to the Steps Regulations apply in England with effect from 12th April 2021, the date on which these Regulations come into force. They also make minor amendments to the definition of “linked household” in regulation 3 of the Steps Regulations, amend paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 to clarify that customers may enter premises serving alcohol to pay for their food and drink, and paragraph 12 of that Schedule to clarify which facilities may remain open in campsites, caravan parks and self-contained holiday accommodation, and make other minor amendments to the Steps Regulations. In addition, they amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Local Authority Enforcement Powers and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020, to extend the powers of local authorities designated officers to issue notices under Part 2 of those Regulations to include contraventions of paragraph 12 of Schedule 2 to the Steps Regulations. | |||
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Laid 7 Apr 2021 In Force 9 Apr 2021 |
Department of Health and Social Care |
Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) (Amendment) (No. 12) Regulations 2021 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Made negative procedure |
| These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/568) to add further countries to the list, in Schedule B1, of countries and territories subject to existing enhanced measures. | |||
Petitions addressed by Department of Health and Social Care
| Current Signatures | Final Signatures | Title | Petition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
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337,142 Petition Closed |
Prevent any restrictions on those who refuse a Covid-19 vaccination Gov Responded - 11 Sep 2020 Debated on - 14 Dec 2020 |
4 Feb 2021 closed 2 months, 1 week ago |
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I want the Government to prevent any restrictions being placed on those who refuse to have any potential Covid-19 vaccine. This includes restrictions on travel, social events, such as concerts or sports. No restrictions whatsoever. |
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238,769 Petition Closed |
Stop the privatisation of NHS services Gov Responded - 20 Feb 2018 Debated on - 23 Apr 2018 |
17 May 2018 closed 2 years, 11 months ago |
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We call for a ban on the outsourcing (privatisation) of NHS services, and stop the renewal of any outsourcing contracts already signed. Companies should not be profiteering from NHS contracts, when every pound of NHS budgets is desperately needed for more doctors and nurses, and to pay them more. |
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205,359 Petition Closed |
Lower the age for smear tests from 25 to 18 to prevent cervical cancer. Gov Responded - 13 Sep 2018 Debated on - 28 Jan 2019 |
3 Feb 2019 closed 2 years, 2 months ago |
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Hi I'm Natasha, I am making this petition because I want to make a difference to all woman living in the UK. I am 30 years old and I have metastatic cervical cancer. I believe that the age of screening should be lowered to age 18 to enable all woman to detect cell changes and prevent cancer. |
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Departmental Select Committee
Health and Social Care Committee
Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.
Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.
11 Members of the Health and Social Care Committee
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 29 Jan 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 11 May 2020
Health and Social Care Committee Member since 29 Jun 2020
Health and Social Care Committee: Upcoming Events
<i>At 9.30am: Oral evidence</i><br/>Lucas - Activist at Young Minds<br/>Hope, Easting Disorder advocate<br/><i>At 10.00am: Oral evidence</i><br/>Professor Pat McGorry - Professor of Youth and Mental Health at University of Melbourne, and Director of Orygen Youth Health at Oregen Youth Health Research Centre in Victoria, Australia<br/>Cassandra Harrison - Chief Executive Officer at Youth Access<br/><i>At 10.30am: Oral evidence</i><br/>Professor Peter Fonagy - Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at University College London<br/>Dr Aleisha Clarke - Head of Child Mental Health and Wellbeing at Early Intervention Foundation<br/>Tim Bowen - Head at Maple Primary School, St Albans<br/>Shanti Johnson - Deputy Head at Maple Primary School, St Albans<br/>
20 Apr 2021, 9 a.m.
Children and young people's mental health
View calendar
Health and Social Care Committee: 7 Current Inquiries
Health and Social Care Committee: Previous Inquiries
Department of Health and Social Care Publications
Most Recent Publications
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 16 | The R value and growth rate | Guidance and Regulation |
| Apr. 16 | Surge testing to be deployed in Sandwell and Birmingham | News and Communications |
| Apr. 16 | New UK Government Covid testing centre in Dundee | News and Communications |
Department of Health and Social Care Written Questions
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
Latest Written Question
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 2021, midnight | Coronavirus: Vaccination | Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat - Life peer) |
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Question to the Department of Health and Social Care: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to administer COVID-19 vaccinations in prisons and other places of custody. Answered by Lord Bethell - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care) Working together with our partners across the secure and detained estate, vaccinations in prisons and detention centres has begun - delivering to the top priority cohorts defined by the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations, in line with the rest of the population. As set out in the United Kingdom COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan, Local Vaccination Services are co-ordinating and delivering vaccinations to people who are unable to attend a vaccination site, including prisons and other places of custody. |
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