Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on coordinated specialist surgical training programmes, including Training Interface Group fellowships, of the transfer of NHS England functions into the Department of Health and Social Care.

The importance of maintaining pipeline supply and capabilities in the specialist surgical workforce is recognised within the legacy functions of NHS England that the Government intends to transfer into the Department.

Work has commenced to ensure oversight and assurance of a number of specialist areas of practice, including selected Training Interface Group programmes, working with regions, specialised commissioning teams, and national stakeholders to ensure adequate numbers of trained consultants with the required skills.