1 Introduction
1. The draft Legislative Reform (Clinical Commissioning
Groups) Order 2014 (the 'draft Order') and Explanatory Document
were laid before Parliament on 13 March 2014 by the Department
of Health (the 'Department').
2. The draft Order would enable Clinical Commissioning
Groups (CCGs) to form joint committees with other CCGs where they
wish to do so. The draft Order would also allow CCGs to form joint
committees with NHS England to jointly exercise CCG functions.
Both proposals in the draft Order are voluntary. Primary Care
Trusts, the predecessor bodies to CCGs, were able to create binding
joint decision making bodies between themselves.[1]
3. The Department states that "Although the
amendments are more than merely technical, they remain fairly
straightforward and the consultation did not raise any major concerns
about the proposals".[2]
However, concerns were expressed that these arrangements may lead
to a move away from local control of commissioning of services.
The Minister has recommended that the draft Order be subject to
the affirmative resolution procedure. We have examined the draft
Order in accordance with Standing Order No. 141(3) and recommend
under 141(4) that the draft Order be approved.
1 See Annex, Letter from the Department of Health to
the Committee, 8 April 2014 (Q2) Back
2
Explanatory Document, paragraph
3.10 Back
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