Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to issue guidance to local authorities on (a) considering and (b) including the evidence in the report entitled Bercow: Ten Years On report, published in March 2018, in their (a) joint health and wellbeing strategies and (b) their contribution to integrated care systems.

As set out in the statutory guidance on Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies, local authorities and clinical commissioners should be drawing upon this evidence and the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care will continue to promote and draw this to the attention of commissioners where possible.

The report ‘Bercow: Ten Years On’ provides valuable evidence of the importance of commissioners understanding local communication needs, and working together with providers and patients to ensure needs are met. The Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care will continue to seek opportunities for drawing this to the attention of commissioners.