Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the immediate assurances relied upon by CQC in deciding not to use urgent powers under section 31.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator, and decisions about enforcement action, including the use of urgent powers under section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, are a matter for the CQC, exercised in line with its statutory remit and published enforcement policy.

In relation to the community-based mental health services for adults of working age at the Lambeth Single Point of Access team, the CQC considered the use of urgent powers under section 31 following the 2025 inspection findings. However, following further submissions and evidence from the provider, the CQC determined that the statutory threshold for urgent action was no longer met at the point of decision, and urgent enforcement action was not pursued. Regulatory breaches remained and are being addressed through ongoing regulatory oversight and follow‑up activity.