Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the Equalities Impact Statement on the decision to close local Healthwatch services and transfer their functions to local authorities and Integrated Care Boards; and what assessment he has made of the ability of commissioners to reach marginalised groups of people experiencing the greatest health inequalities.

The abolition of Healthwatch England and the transfer of its functions, as well as the changes to Local Healthwatch, will require primary legislation. The timing of this is subject to the will of Parliament and will happen when Parliamentary time allows.

A full Impact Assessment, including an Equality Impact Assessment, would be produced and published on the Government website when the legislation is introduced in Parliament. No assessment has been made at this time.

Any changes to the funding regarding the transfer of Local Healthwatch functions to integrated care boards and local authorities will take place after legislation.