Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he took advice from the Permanent Secretary under S7.2 of the Ministerial Code when Topwood Ltd was awarded a place on a framework contract by SBS NHS from 2 January 2019.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s declarations of interests are published bi-annually and are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests

The declaration of interests was discussed with the Permanent Secretary and advice was provided. These matters have been considered in the Annual Report of the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-of-the-independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests-may-2021

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Prime Minister have exchanged correspondence on this matter, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/correspondence-between-the-prime-minister-and-the-secretary-of-state-of-health-and-social-care-28-may-2021