Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue guidance to commissioners of NHS services on how commercial confidentiality affects answers to freedom of information requests.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a right of access to a wide range of information held by public sector organisations, including clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

The Parliamentary and Public Accountability Agreements Protocols in place between the Department and its arm’s length bodies covers best practice for responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. This includes consulting with the Department where necessary and sets out that the Department’s FOI team will provide informal, impartial advice on relevant legislation and duties.