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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the NHS Counter Fraud Compliance Unit was proposed for closure in the Arm's Length Body review; what recent transitional arrangements have been proposed; and if he will make a statement. [218034] Ms Rosie Winterton: [holding answer 24 February 2005]: The devolution of the work of the National Health Service Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) compliance unit was intended to be 31 March 2005, with closure of the unit at the same time. Unfortunately, an error occurred at the time of publication of "An Implementation Framework for Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's Length Bodies" and the date for closure was shown as 1 October 2005, not 31 March 2005 as previously indicated in communication to compliance unit staff. Staff in the compliance unit were contacted once it became clear that an error had been made. The CFSMS is continuing to consult with UNISON regarding transitional arrangements. These include retaining a small number of staff to undertake work on decommissioning the compliance unit for a limited period of time. This is in addition to the nine members of staff who will be retained to form a patient fraud support unit.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1737-8W;431 c1733-4W; 218034

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Closures Transitional arrangements Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk