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Integrated Care Boards: Finance

Asked by Brian MathewLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 15 June 2026UIN 6595

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed reductions in funding for Integrated Care Boards on their ability to provide oversight of contracted services.

Answered by Karin Smyth

We are looking to reduce the cost of running integrated care boards (ICBs) to free up resources for frontline services. To support this, we have refocused their role on strategic commissioning and reduced their involvement in functions such as performance management and assurance. We have developed a model ICB Blueprint and published a Strategic Commissioning Framework, which are clear that contract management is a key enabler of successful strategic commissioning.

This is now being reflected in medium term plans following publication of the Medium Term Planning Framework for 2026/27 to 2028/29.

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