Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will provide transitional funding to assist clinical commissioning groups that are in deficit.

NHS England’s business rules require all clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to have a balanced financial plan for 2017-18.

Any CCGs planning to go into deficit have to satisfy NHS England that they can return to a breakeven or surplus position in the short to medium term and that the deficit is unavoidable. Where CCGs indicate a deteriorating position they will come under close scrutiny from the regional teams and can be put in recovery which means that they have to develop and agree recovery plans with NHS England.

Transitional funding will not be provided to CCGs in deficit, though in establishing the period over which the CCG should return to a balanced financial position, NHS England takes account of the level of deficit, the pressures facing the organisation and the level of growth in funding.