Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Memorandum of understanding between the UK and the Philippines on healthcare cooperation, published by his Department on 11 November 2021, what recent assessment he has made of the level of compliance by recruitment agencies with the provision of that Memorandum.

No specific assessment has been made. However, officials hold regular meetings with the Filipino Labour Attache. Where concerns have been raised with officials on compliance with the code, these cases have been referred to NHS Employers or other relevant regulatory bodies. NHS Employers hosts a list of agencies which adhere to the code to assist employers. It undertakes routine checks on compliance, responds to complaints or breaches and takes necessary action where the code is contravened.