The committee's reports into NHS deficits, independent sector treatment centres, Modernising Medical Careers, electronic patient records and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have been well regarded for their intellectual rigour. Forthcoming reports into the next stage review, patient safety, health inequalities and dental services will add more insight.[1]

Health Service Journal, November 2008.

1.  The Health Committee, which consists of eleven Members, ten drawn from the three largest parties and one Independent Member, is charged with examining the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of Health (DoH) and its associated public bodies.[2] This is a large task: the Department is responsible for the stewardship of over £90 billion of public funds; most of this money is spent by the National Health Service (NHS), which employs 1.3 million staff in more than 300 organisations.[3] The Department is also responsible for a range of other activities, including oversight of a number of important Non-Departmental Public Bodies.

2.  In carrying out our work we aim to undertake detailed inquiries into major policy issues, examine how the DoH spends its vast budget and retain the flexibility to respond to emerging developments in health policy. Some of our inquiries examine Government proposals, others seek to set the agenda, looking at neglected topics. Our work on these areas is discussed below in Chapter 2 (under the heading, Objective A).

3.  During 2008 we published the following Reports at the end of our inquiries:

First Report Second Report Third Report Fourth Report Fifth Report Sixth Report

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Work of the Committee 2007 Modernising Medical Careers Appointment of the Chair of the Care Quality Commission Dental Services Foundation trusts and Monitor

HC 27 (Cm 7331) HC 337 HC 25 (Cm 7338) HC 545 HC 289 (Cm 7470) HC 833

The table also lists the Government Responses where they have been received.

4.  We also hold one-off evidence sessions with ministers and officials. In 2008 we took evidence from Ivan Lewis on social care. Early in 2009 we will question the Secretary of State about the new NHS Operating Framework.

5.  Financial scrutiny of health expenditure is at the centre of our work. Our annual inquiry based on our Public Expenditure Questionnaire remains at the heart of this scrutiny, but we also look at expenditure in other inquiries such as the examination of Foundation Trusts and Monitor. This aspect of our work is outlined below under Objective B in Chapter Two.

6.  In undertaking our work we pay careful attention to examining the administration of the Department. We look at its effectiveness in meeting Public Sector Agreements (PSAs) and targets. We monitor its associated public bodies, examine the implementation of major policy initiatives and scrutinise major appointments. We were one of the first Committees to undertake this task formally, under the processes established by the Liaison Committee in 2008, holding a pre-appointment hearing with Baroness Young of Old Scone who was the candidate for appointment as Chair of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).[4] These matters are discussed under Objective C below.

7.  An important part of our work is assisting the House. A number of debates on our reports were held in both the House and Westminster Hall. More information on this is provided below under Objective D.

8.  While we work principally by undertaking inquiries, the scope of our activity is wider. On Monday afternoons the Chairman and other Members of the Committee meet informally a wide range of people and organisations with an interest in health-related subjects. We have made visits to places in the UK and overseas to receive briefings from relevant experts. We have also received visitors from overseas and arranged to meet EU Commissioner Vassiliou at Westminster in January 2009.

9.  We are keen to follow-up recommendations made in reports in previous sessions. We do this during our one-off evidence sessions; for example, we asked Ivan Lewis MP, then Parliamentary Under Secretary for Care Services, to update us about a number of our reports which touched on his responsibilities. We have also followed up other reports by seeking memoranda. In addition, progress on implementing recommendations is pursued during major inquiries. Our methods of working are outlined in Chapter Three below.

10.  We received help in our inquiries from the National Audit Office and from the Scrutiny Unit and the Library in the House of Commons. We have continued to enjoy positive relations with the Department of Health. Ministers and officials have been helpful and attended evidence sessions when requested. We would like to thank in particular Tim Elms and his colleagues who work in the parliamentary section of the Department and all those officials who worked on the compilation of the PEQ.

11.  Statistical information about the Committee's work is published in Annex 3.

2   Committee membership is comprised: six Labour, three Conservative, one Liberal Democrat, and one Independent Member for Wyre Forest. Back

3   Department of Health Departmental Report 2008 (CM 7393) Back

4   Liaison Committee, First report of Session 2007-08, Pre-appointment hearing by select committees, HC 384 Back