Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of removing the three-year statue of limitations for offences under Part 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The Government is extending the statute of limitations period for bringing proceedings for offences under Part 1 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Section 90(2).

This change aims to give the Care Quality Commission more time to gather evidence, conclude investigations, and prosecute where appropriate.

By extending the period in which proceedings can be brought, the Department seeks to encourage learning from failures in care and provide greater assurance and confidence for families seeking justice. The change will support the ambitions of the 10-Year Health Plan to improve quality of care generally.