Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 21 September 2026, to Question 28804, on Department of Health and Social Care: Pay and Workplace Pensions, and to the answer of 8 July 2026, to Question 15245, on Department of Health and Social Care: Secondment, whether any departmental staff are currently on (a) contractual pay progression and (b) the NHS pension scheme, under (i) TUPE arrangements or (ii) secondments.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) primarily operates Civil Service pay and pension arrangements. However, a small number of staff remain on National Health Service terms and conditions, including access to NHS pay progression and the NHS Pension Scheme, where this has been agreed for specific business purposes, including arrangements associated with the transfer of specialist clinical functions into the Department. This arrangement is subject to HM Treasury oversight and approval.

DHSC may also host secondees from NHS organisations, who generally remain subject to the pay and pension arrangements of their substantive employer. Secondment arrangements are agreed on a case-by-case basis. Staff on NHS contractual arrangements remain subject to the terms and conditions applicable to those arrangements.