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
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Sixty-second report from Session 2022-23 · published 24 Sep 2023
Recommendations & Conclusions
10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
UK Health Security Agency established in 2021, consolidating key public health protection functions.
Conclusion
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 …
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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.
HM Treasury
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11
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Establishment of UKHSA was a complex and urgent task driven by pandemic imperatives.
Conclusion
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 …
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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.
HM Treasury
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12
Conclusion
Not Addressed
UKHSA's complexity compounded by changing remit and significant workforce reduction post-pandemic strategy.
Conclusion
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 …
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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.
HM Treasury
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