Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England plans to conduct a public consultation on the (a) nature and (b) remit of the Federated Data Platform before the invitation to tender for the platform is published.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
NHS England has no plans to do so.
However, ‘Data saves lives: reshaping health and social care with data,’ published in June 2022, commits to improve trust in the health and care system’s use of data. This includes engagement with the public and stakeholders on data programmes and projects, such as research and development, General Practice Data for Planning and Research and the Federated Data Platform.
We plan to engage through methods including surveys, large-scale public engagement and focus groups, which will inform a public campaign in early 2023 on how the National Health Service uses data to improve the lives of patients. A specific theme of the engagement programme will focus on Secure Data Environments, including the Federated Data Platform.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the value of the Federated Data Platform contract was as of 7 July 2022; and how that figure compares with the value in the Prior Information Notice.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
The proposed contract value for the Federated Data Platform is £360 million over five years, with an option to extend over two years. The initial Privacy Information Notice (PIN) referred to the intention to procure a three year contract, originally estimated at £240 million. However, a subsequent decision was made to procure a longer-term contract to allow for an improved return on investment, which increased its value. An opportunity notice will be issued following the launch of the competition, which will state the revised contract values.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on when the Invitation to Tender for the Federated Data Platform will be published.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
There have been no specific discussions. The contract notice will be available from the anticipated publication date in September 2022. This will initiate a 30-day period for interested suppliers to respond to a pre-selection questionnaire and express interest in the procurement. At the end of this period, an invitation to competitive dialogue will be issued.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to remove the requirement for workers in care homes to be vaccinated against covid-19.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
On 31 January 2022, the Government announced plans to revoke the requirement for workers in care homes to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This change is subject to consultation and Parliamentary approval.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend the policy of mandatory covid-19 vaccination to healthcare workers in private hospitals.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds North East (Fabian Hamilton MP) on 12 January 2022 to Question 74895.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2021 to Question 80412 on Integrated Care Boards: Conflict of Interests, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Health and Care Bill on the ability of employees of private sector companies, that would financially benefit from ICBs decommissioning services currently provided by NHS England, to become members of ICBs.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
No assessment has been made as these individuals will not be able to sit on integrated care boards.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2021 to Question 80412 on Integrated Care Boards: Conflict of Interests, if he will take steps to create a centralised register of interests for the purpose of public accessibility.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
There are no plans for a centralised register of conflicts of interest.
Integrated care boards will be required to maintain and publish a register of their members’ interests and to outline arrangements for the management of conflicts or potential conflicts of interest. These will be published for public access.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the risk of conflicts of interest arising on Integrated Care Boards.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Health and Care Bill transfers clinical commissioning groups’ current requirements to manage conflicts of interest to integrated care boards (ICBs), which includes maintaining and publishing a register of members’ interests and arrangements for the management of conflicts or potential conflicts of interest.
The ICB chair can also veto members of the board if they are unsuitable and NHS England can issue guidance to ICBs in relation to appointments. In order to manage conflicts of interest of board membership, we have also brought forward an amendment to the Bill to prevent individuals from the membership of boards where there are significant interests or views that could undermine its independence.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to (a) identify and (b) publish any conflicts of interests on Integrated Care Boards.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Health and Care Bill transfers clinical commissioning groups’ current requirements to manage conflicts of interest to integrated care boards. This includes maintaining and publishing a register of members’ interests and arrangements for the management of conflicts or potential conflicts of interest.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to require all companies in receipt of NHS contracts to be based in the UK.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The National Health Service relies on overseas suppliers for essential medicines and equipment to operate effectively and provide patients with access to key treatments. We are committed to securing the future of this supply chain by allowing manufacturers of essential supplies and equipment to access United Kingdom markets, in order to maintain vital supplies
However, we have made it clear that protecting public services, including the NHS, is of the utmost importance. The UK’s public health sector is protected by specific exceptions and reservations in all trade agreements.