Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the present NHS commissioning system and to develop more robust arrangements to alleviate any potential of creating a two-tier system which could lead to differing priorities between Councils, the NHS, and the care sector.

The Department supports the role and structure of statutory integrated care systems (ICSs) in both commissioning health services to meet the needs of their populations, and bringing together commissioners and other partners to plan and deliver joined up health and care services that improve the lives of people who live and work in their area.

The organisations within an ICS include the National Health Service, local government, social care providers, charities, and other organisations working together to provide more joined up care for people, and to improve the outcomes for their populations. NHS England has set out the four core purposes for the ICSs, which are as follows:

- improve outcomes in population health and healthcare;

- tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access;

- enhance productivity and value for money; and

- help the NHS support broader social and economic development.