Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Sixty-Second Report - Department of Health and Social Care 2021–22 Annual Report and Accounts
Public Accounts Committee
HC 997
Published 5 July 2023
Conclusions (4)
8
Conclusion
As well as the significant volumes of PPE it purchased, and is now disposing of, the Department entered into contracts for both COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 medicines which commit it to procure future stock. It recognised impairments on these contracts in 2021–22 of £1.7 billion for COVID-19 vaccines and £1.8 …
10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
On 18 August 2020, the Department announced a reorganisation of public health in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was subsequently established as an Executive Agency of the Department on 1 April 2021 with its Chair and Chief Executive appointed on the same day. It became fully operational on …
Government Response Summary
The government's response outlines UKHSA's governance improvements, but this conclusion was a factual observation about the agency's establishment, not a recommendation requiring action.
11
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department told us that there was an operational imperative to establish UKHSA before the winter of 2021–22, which was driven by the state of the pandemic and the need to create a single source of advice for Ministers and a single operational response.26 The establishment of UKHSA was a …
Government Response Summary
The government's response details governance improvements at UKHSA but does not directly engage with the conclusion's observations regarding the operational imperative for its rapid establishment or the inherent complexity of the task.
12
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The complexity was compounded by the changing remit for UKHSA and by policy decisions which had significant implications for UKHSA’s size and structure. For example, in March 2022 with the implementation of the ‘living with covid’ strategy, UKHSA began a restructure which resulted in it decreasing its workforce from 18,000 …
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on UKHSA's corporate governance and oversight, rather than directly addressing the observed complexities stemming from its changing remit and restructuring outlined in this conclusion.