Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of abolishing NHS England on the number of research partnerships with universities in (a) public health, (b) clinical trials, (c) innovation and (d) other areas.

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new executive team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead the formation of a new joint centre. As we work to bring the two organisations together, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

We continue to work collaboratively across both organisations to put in place plans to ensure continuity of services.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department, is the nation’s largest funder of clinical, public health, and social care research, and is committed to working in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The Department’s investment in NIHR research partnerships will not be impacted by the formation of a new joint centre.