Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England will remain the sole budget-holder and accountable commissioner for all specialised services in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) future years.

NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.

NHS England is proposing to move to a more collaborative approach to commissioning some specialised services, aligned to the vision set out in the Five Year Forward View. This should lead to improved outcomes for patients, more integrated pathways and a better patient experience.

NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16.

NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to determine the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.

Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached.