Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2023 to Questions 184828 and 184829 on Defibrillators, when he plans to open the application process for the Automated External Defibrillator Fund to community groups.

The Department is currently in the pre-procurement stage of determining a selected partner for the Automated External Defibrillator Fund. On 26 May 2023, the Department published the Community Automated External Defibrillators Fund (Grant Administration) for a supplier to manage grant applications for Automated External Defibrillators from local organisations and community groups. The notice is available at the following link:

https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2c6e4cd1-3302-448d-8ebe-2795fb996843

It is anticipated that a contract will be awarded to a supplier to expand defibrillator access in the community by Summer 2023.