Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Public Health England's consultation on the impact of data-sharing arrangements under the memorandum of understanding on the health and healthcare-seeking behaviour of migrants, whether the findings of that consultation will be published; when the results of that consultation will be published; and if he will make a statement.

On 9 May 2018, the Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries (Margot James MP), announced that the Government will be amending the data request arrangements covered under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between NHS Digital, the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care. This would narrow when the Home Office can request non-clinical information from NHS Digital to very limited circumstances.

The Department commissioned a review from Public Health England (PHE) in 2017 into the impact on public health and health-seeking behaviour of the previous MOU, which was withdrawn on 9 November 2018. The Department has asked PHE to extend their review to provide advice on the potential impact of the narrowed scope of a new MOU. This will be published when it is complete.