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Written question asked by Caroline Johnson (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. A substantive answer was provided by Preet Kaur Gill (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Health Services Safety Investigation Body and Healthwatch England

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the likely cost of abolition of (a) HealthWatch England, (b) Health Service Safety Investigation Body (HSSIB) and (c) the development and enactment of transfer schemes in connection with the transfer of HSSIB’s functions to the Care Quality Commission.

Answer

An impact assessment on patient safety measures has been undertaken and published alongside the introduction of the Health Bill 2026. This document contains the following impact assessments, including sections on current estimates of transfer costs: Abolishing Healthwatch England and Local Healthwatch; transfer of the Health Services Safety Investigation Body functions into the Care Quality Commission; and Care Quality Commission: extending the statute of limitations. The impact assessment can be viewed at the following link:

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4124/publications

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17381
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Costs Reorganisation Healthwatch England Health Services Safety Investigations Body
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk