MPs carry out pre-legislative scrutiny of draft NHS Health and Care Bill

• Inquiry: Department's White Paper on health and social care
• Health and Social Care Committee

Pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposals in the White Paper, Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all, will begin next week with an evidence session on Tuesday 2 March. A further two sessions are planned.

The first session will consider plans for integrated care systems, reform of social care and the extension of the powers of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. It will take evidence from think-tanks as well as a number of stakeholder organisations, including NHS Providers and the Local Government Association.

Chair's comment

Health and Social Care Committee Chair Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt said:

“As a Committee we look forward to examining the detail of the Government’s plans to reform how the NHS delivers health and care services. A priority should be to build on progress on patient safety and quality of care.

“We will have questions about how the new statutory bodies will operate alongside local authorities, and crucially, by what measures they will be judged and held to account.

“Restructuring on this scale offers an opportunity to set the NHS on a new course for future generations. Workforce reform and a long-term plan for social care cannot be overlooked.”

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: PA