Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether and by how much the (a) funding and (b) staffing of (i) the Care Quality Commission and (ii) NHS providers has increased as a result of the new requirement to apply a fit and proper person test to NHS directors since October 2014.

Grant in Aid funding for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is agreed with the Department based on a number of factors, including any changes to its statutory function, the range of priorities identified in their business plan and any efficiencies needing to be met. It also takes account of funds received in fees from providers. The fit and proper person test is one of many elements of the CQC’s overall business.

The cost to providers would be very small as providers were already required by the CQC regulations to notify CQC of any appointment of a new director.