Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how learnings from the two integrated care boards (ICBs) in South London that have taken on full commissioning responsibility for specialised services deemed suitable and ready will be applied to other ICBs ahead of full delegation from 2024–25.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have not yet taken on full delegated commissioning responsibilities in any part of the country. In April 2023, nine joint committees between NHS England and ICBs were established and were given joint commissioning responsibilities for 59 specialised services. This is part of a transitional year during which NHS England and ICBs are jointly taking decisions about the design and delivery of services that are in scope.

As part of the 2023/24 transitional year arrangements, the two South London ICBs and NHS England London regional team have established a pathfinder programme. Learnings from the programme are shared with all other regions and national specialised commissioning leaders so that they can learn in real time as they develop their joint working arrangements ahead of delegation.