Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, what plans he has to postpone the reorganisation of (a) clinical commissioning groups and (b) the NHS.

It is for NHS England to approve the mergers of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). There are a number of CCGs merging on 1 April 2020, and plans to do so are well advanced. NHS England have, so far, not indicated an intention to pause these mergers.

The Government also remains committed to considering legislative changes to support the NHS implement the Long Term Plan and will bring forward proposals in due course.