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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.