Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what functions set out in the May 2025 Model ICB document are being transferred out of ICBs in 2026-27; and if he will publish the updated NHS England document entitled Model ICB functions.

Under the Health and Care Act 2022, integrated care boards (ICBs) have flexibility to delegate their statutory functions, their duties and powers, to other statutory bodies, subject to secondary legislation and NHS England’s guidance. While ICBs can delegate responsibility for discharge of the statutory function, accountability remains with them. Currently, the focus of ICBs is realising the administrative efficiencies required of them, rather than delegating their statutory functions. No changes have been made to the existing statutory responsibilities which ICBs must continue to meet.

There is a consultation underway on restructuring the NHS England regional teams which will confirm those additional activities previously undertaken by some ICBs. This includes, for example, oversight of National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts against the national oversight framework. We have no current plans to publish additional guidance on this currently.