Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the planned NHS Federated Data Platform, what steps the Government is taking to (a) assess the suitability of the businesses bidding for the contract, (b) ensure that patient’s consent is received before personal and sensitive data is shared with the winning company and (c) prevent the misuse of personal and sensitive data by the winning company.

Regarding the suitability of businesses bidding for the contract, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton on 1 December to Question 90852.

Regarding the assurance that patient’s consent is received before personal and sensitive data is shared with the successful bidder, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Norwich South on 22 September 2022 to Question 49205.

Regarding prevention of the misuse of personal and sensitive data by the successful bidder, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Manchester Gorton on 30 March 2023 to Question 171540.