Written question asked by Derek Twigg (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 October 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 22 October 2010. It was answered by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 October 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Monitor

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 505-6, on public bodies reform, what the functions of Monitor are; which additional functions it will assume when it becomes an economic regulator; and from which bodies these functions will be transferred.

Answer: Monitor's function as independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts (FTs) is set out in the NHS Act 2006. The Government have set out their proposal in the consultation document; ““Liberating the NHS: Regulating Healthcare providers (July 2010)”” which is to develop Monitor into an economic regulator for health and adult social care.Subject to legislation, Monitor's role would change significantly and consequently, Monitor would not retain all of its existing powers as the regulator of FTs, but would extend its role in relation to providers more generally.Monitor's overarching duty would be to protect the interests of patients and the public in the provision of health and adult social care services, by promoting competition where appropriate, and through regulation where necessary, including price regulation.Monitor would be required to take a consistent approach to licensing and regulation of all providers.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 19239; 517 c331-2W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Public Bodies Reform
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Proceeding contributions
House of Commons
Subjects: Monitor
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk