Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role the Chair of NHS England has played in risk assessment for the NHS since his appointment.

The Chair of NHS England oversees the Board as the senior decision-making structure for NHS England. The Board sets the strategy and overall direction of NHS England, within the context of the National Health Service mandate from Government, overseeing delivery of the agreed strategy, the approach to risk, and establishing the culture and values of the organisation.

The Board has delegated some of its duties and responsibilities to Board Committees, which provide regular assurance to the Board on specific areas delegated to them and, by exception, escalate issues that merit full Board discussion and decision. They are led by non-executive directors and include the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, which meets five times per year and reviews and monitors the integrity of the financial statements, financial and regulatory compliance, the systems of internal and control and the external and internal audit process. In accordance with good corporate governance, the Chair of NHS England is not a Member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.