Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which minister has overall responsibility for volunteer search and rescue policy across government.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport leads on volunteering policy, and the responsible Minister is Stephanie Peacock MP and Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth. The Cabinet Office owns the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), which provides the overarching legal framework for emergency preparedness in the UK. It creates the conditions for effective multi-agency working at the local level when responding to emergencies, including search and rescue arrangements.

However, the legal and operational framework that underpins search and rescue means that in practice, a number of Ministers and Government departments determine policy relevant to their areas of expertise.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Department holds lead responsibility for determining whether volunteer land based search and rescue organisations are required to register with the Care Quality Commission; and which statutory provisions govern that responsibility.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for monitoring the impact of its regulatory activity through inspections, ratings, and ongoing assessment of providers.

The Department oversees the effectiveness of the legislative framework, including through statutory postimplementation reviews. The CQC is accountable to Parliament, with its performance and impact subject to scrutiny by select committees and independent reviews. Together, these arrangements ensure that both the delivery and effectiveness of regulation are regularly assessed.

Requirements to register with the CQC depend on whether an organisation is carrying on regulated activities in England. In certain circumstances, exemptions may apply, including where activities are carried out under the direction or control of a Government department.

The CQC is engaging with both land and maritime search and rescue teams to help minimise any impact to those services. The CQC recognises the urgency of this issue and is working to reach a confirmed position as soon as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Department holds lead responsibility for determining whether volunteer maritime search and rescue organisations are required to register with the Care Quality Commission; and which statutory provisions govern that responsibility.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for monitoring the impact of its regulatory activity through inspections, ratings, and ongoing assessment of providers.

The Department oversees the effectiveness of the legislative framework, including through statutory postimplementation reviews. The CQC is accountable to Parliament, with its performance and impact subject to scrutiny by select committees and independent reviews. Together, these arrangements ensure that both the delivery and effectiveness of regulation are regularly assessed.

Requirements to register with the CQC depend on whether an organisation is carrying on regulated activities in England. In certain circumstances, exemptions may apply, including where activities are carried out under the direction or control of a Government department.

The CQC is engaging with both land and maritime search and rescue teams to help minimise any impact to those services. The CQC recognises the urgency of this issue and is working to reach a confirmed position as soon as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Department is responsible for monitoring the impact of regulation on volunteer land based search and rescue organisations; and how that responsibility is coordinated across Government.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for monitoring the impact of its regulatory activity through inspections, ratings, and ongoing assessment of providers.

The Department oversees the effectiveness of the legislative framework, including through statutory postimplementation reviews. The CQC is accountable to Parliament, with its performance and impact subject to scrutiny by select committees and independent reviews. Together, these arrangements ensure that both the delivery and effectiveness of regulation are regularly assessed.

Requirements to register with the CQC depend on whether an organisation is carrying on regulated activities in England. In certain circumstances, exemptions may apply, including where activities are carried out under the direction or control of a Government department.

The CQC is engaging with both land and maritime search and rescue teams to help minimise any impact to those services. The CQC recognises the urgency of this issue and is working to reach a confirmed position as soon as possible.

Found: Hoare (Conservative; North Dorset) (Chair) Richard Baker (Labour; Glenrothes and Mid Fife) Markus Campbell-Savours

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Simon Hoare (Chair); Markus Campbell-Savours; Sam Carling; John Lamont

Found: Watch the meeting Modernisation Committee members present: Sir Alan Campbell (Chair); Markus Campbell-Savours