Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2015 to Question 220819, what weight was given to previous evidence of successful management of NHS data programmes in appointing the Senior Responsible Officer of the care.data programme.

The Senior Responsible Owner for the care.data programme was appointed on an interim basis in March 2014. That appointment has been reviewed by the Major Projects Authority which works with HM Treasury and other government departments to provide independent assurance on major projects. A permanent appointment for that post will be made in the near future in line with the guidance set out by the Major Projects Authority in the Cabinet Office.