Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the article in the Health Service Journal entitled Branding agency hired to help cultivate new personality for NHSE, published on 7 February 2023, what the value of NHS England's contract with Thompson for work referenced in that article is; and if he will publish the interim update for senior leaders.

As part of the implementation of the legal merger of NHS England with Health Education England and NHS Digital approved by Parliament through the Health and Care Act 2022, Thompson were contracted to provide independent support and advice to minimise the risk of disruption to communications with the wider health and care system, operational and strategic partners and stakeholders, and staff patients and the public from the new combined organisation. The value of the contract was £80,000.