Mentions:
1: Baroness Morris of Yardley (Lab - Life peer) There is no standard template across the country; every single one of those contracts can take a different - Speech Link
2: Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer) Different people and organisations negotiate different contracts. - Speech Link
3: Lord Mott (Con - Life peer) We cannot accept the Government always hiding behind confidentiality and contracts as reasons why we - Speech Link
4: Baroness Wheeler (Lab - Life peer) trusts on drawing up and managing procurement contracts. - Speech Link
Mar. 26 2024
Source Page: NHS general ophthalmic service fees and optical voucher values from April 2024Found: NHS general ophthalmic service fees and optical voucher values from April 2024
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department and NHS England have made of (a) the potential impact on the availability of appropriate medical devices on the NHS of the requirement for suppliers to report the carbon footprint of all their products available across the NHS and (b) the cost of this requirement to NHS suppliers.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2021, NHS England published the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap, which sets out a series of milestones to support National Health Service suppliers in aligning with NHS Net Zero ambitions. The 2027 requirement for suppliers to publicly report targets and emissions, and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) for global emissions aligned with the NHS Net Zero targets, will build on milestones implemented in 2023 and 2024. Further information on the roadmap is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/get-involved/suppliers/
The 1 April 2023 milestone required that suppliers bidding for any new contracts above £5 million per annum publish a CRP for their United Kingdom scope one and two emissions, and a subset of scope three emissions, as a minimum. This requirement was proportionately extended to all new procurements from April 2024, with a full CRP required for new procurements above £5 million per annum, and new frameworks operated by in-scope organisations. A Net Zero Commitment is required for procurements of lower value, as set out in the guidance, which is available at the following link:
NHS England has proactively engaged with suppliers prior to and since the launch of the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap, and continues to engage with regulators, suppliers, and industry bodies ahead of implementing future roadmap milestones, including the April 2027 milestone. NHS England’s engagement approach has included regular supplier forums with trade bodies and external webinars, as well as horizon scanning of the global and UK regulatory and reporting landscapes.
A key enabler of decarbonising the NHS supply chain is to ensure our suppliers begin to understand and communicate the potential impacts of the products they supply. In doing so, we will always seek that product data asks be clear, and will not place a disproportionate burden or cost on the supply chain, whilst delivering on the purpose of the policy.
The NHS has committed to working with suppliers and regulators to determine the scope and methodology of new requirements that enable information sharing regarding the carbon impact of products supplied to the NHS. These requirements are due to be introduced from April 2028, with NHS England currently undertaking engagement in the policy development phase, including aligning with the Government’s medical technology strategy. Details around policy requirements are still being scoped, and as part of this process, we will seek to incorporate the feedback of the supply chain, and will take into account any concerns raised regarding the potential impact on the availability of devices. the Government’s Medical technology strategy is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/medical-technology-strategy
NHS trusts are required to provide an annual summary of progress on delivery of their Green Plan, however there is no requirement for trusts to carry out carbon footprinting, as NHS England provides annual estimates of the total NHS carbon footprint in the NHS England Annual Report and Accounts.
Apr. 12 2024
Source Page: Procurement Act 2023 guidance documentsFound: touch contracts, defence and security contracts, and utilities contracts).
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps with NHS England to introduce a clear supplier roadmap for carbon reduction reporting for NHS suppliers; and what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of current carbon reduction reporting requirements.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In 2021, NHS England published the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap, which sets out a series of milestones to support National Health Service suppliers in aligning with NHS Net Zero ambitions. The 2027 requirement for suppliers to publicly report targets and emissions, and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) for global emissions aligned with the NHS Net Zero targets, will build on milestones implemented in 2023 and 2024. Further information on the roadmap is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/get-involved/suppliers/
The 1 April 2023 milestone required that suppliers bidding for any new contracts above £5 million per annum publish a CRP for their United Kingdom scope one and two emissions, and a subset of scope three emissions, as a minimum. This requirement was proportionately extended to all new procurements from April 2024, with a full CRP required for new procurements above £5 million per annum, and new frameworks operated by in-scope organisations. A Net Zero Commitment is required for procurements of lower value, as set out in the guidance, which is available at the following link:
NHS England has proactively engaged with suppliers prior to and since the launch of the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap, and continues to engage with regulators, suppliers, and industry bodies ahead of implementing future roadmap milestones, including the April 2027 milestone. NHS England’s engagement approach has included regular supplier forums with trade bodies and external webinars, as well as horizon scanning of the global and UK regulatory and reporting landscapes.
A key enabler of decarbonising the NHS supply chain is to ensure our suppliers begin to understand and communicate the potential impacts of the products they supply. In doing so, we will always seek that product data asks be clear, and will not place a disproportionate burden or cost on the supply chain, whilst delivering on the purpose of the policy.
The NHS has committed to working with suppliers and regulators to determine the scope and methodology of new requirements that enable information sharing regarding the carbon impact of products supplied to the NHS. These requirements are due to be introduced from April 2028, with NHS England currently undertaking engagement in the policy development phase, including aligning with the Government’s medical technology strategy. Details around policy requirements are still being scoped, and as part of this process, we will seek to incorporate the feedback of the supply chain, and will take into account any concerns raised regarding the potential impact on the availability of devices. the Government’s Medical technology strategy is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/medical-technology-strategy
NHS trusts are required to provide an annual summary of progress on delivery of their Green Plan, however there is no requirement for trusts to carry out carbon footprinting, as NHS England provides annual estimates of the total NHS carbon footprint in the NHS England Annual Report and Accounts.
May. 20 2008
Source Page: Local involvement networks (LINKs): briefing for independent providers. 7 p.Found: Instead, the Secretary of State will direct commissioners of services to amend new contracts so that
Mar. 26 2024
Source Page: NHS general ophthalmic service fees and optical voucher values from April 2024Found: NHS general ophthalmic service fees and optical voucher values from April 2024
Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS England net zero supplier roadmap, for what reason NHS England’s (a) target date for reaching net zero emissions by 2045 and (b) scope to include reporting of global emissions differ from the requirements laid out in the guidance entitled Procurement Policy Note 06/21: Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The Health and Care Act 2022 compels the National Health Service to take action on climate and environmental issues, including by reducing its emissions. The NHS is committed to reducing its environmental impact, whilst delivering the best possible patient care and outcomes, as well as the best possible value for taxpayers.
The Climate Change Act 2008 requires all areas of the public sector to reduce their emissions, although the pace of change will differ between different segments of the public sector, depending on cost, feasibility, and innovation. The NHS in England has committed to reaching Net Zero by 2045. To achieve these goals, the NHS will require the support of its suppliers. In 2021, NHS England published the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap, which sets out a series of milestones to support NHS suppliers in aligning with the NHS’s Net Zero ambitions. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/get-involved/suppliers/
The latest milestone, implemented from April 2024, sets out Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) requirements for NHS suppliers aligned to the Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21. As set out in PPN 06/21, NHS suppliers’ CRPs need to cover, at a minimum, their emissions in the United Kingdom, and outline their commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
NHS England launched the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment in June 2023, which enables a two-way conversion with suppliers and the NHS. This online, voluntary self-assessment and reporting tool allows suppliers to understand how to align with the NHS Net Zero and sustainability ambitions. NHS England will continue to engage with regulators, suppliers, and industry bodies ahead of implementing future roadmap milestones, to inform policy development. Guidance setting out the detailed requirements of April 2027 will take into account suppliers’ feedback and readiness, and NHS England will aim to publish it well in advance of April 2027 to ensure suppliers have sufficient time to prepare.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many contracts (a) the NHS and (b) her Department has with companies owned by Frank Hester.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2024 to Question 21490 on Prosthetics, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating the stock of prosthetic limbs available.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
The NHS Supply Chain framework for prosthetic componentry will be subject to its next routine procurement exercise in the autumn of 2024, with contracts awarded to commence on 1 April 2025. This does not preclude devices currently not on the framework from being prescribed by prosthetic centres as they are able to order directly from the manufacturer, and report via the exceptions log managed by NHS Supply Chain.