Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the power that he gained under the Health and Care Act 2022 will come into force; when secondary legislation will be laid in the event that regulations are needed to implement that power; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Care Act 2022 gained Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 and the Department is now commencing specific provisions to establish statutory arrangements for integrated care systems from 1 July 2022. A commencement Statutory Instrument was published on 6 May 2022 to enables NHS England and Improvement to undertake preparatory steps to achieve this aim.

The Department intends to commence other sections of the Act relating to the establishment of integrated care systems on 1 July 2022 and lay associated regulations to come into force on the same day. Further key provisions of the Health and Care Act 2022, including but not limited to the Secretary of State’s Power of Direction over NHS England and NHS Improvement are also intended to come into force on 1 July. The Department intends to commence other provisions later in 2022/23.