Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 31 January (WA 220–1) and 22 June (WA 302–3), what analysis was made regarding the Care Quality Commission’s routine monitoring of compliance and use of ““tough enforcement powers”” prior to considering transfer of functions currently carried out by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Answer
In proposing that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) functions transfer to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the department took into account that the CQC is an executive non-departmental public body accountable to the Secretary of State for discharging its functions, duties and powers efficiently and effectively. The department monitors the financial and operational performance, and management of risk, at a general and strategic level through regular formal accountability meetings. It does not assess the CQC's inspection or its monitoring of specific providers. The CQC is responsible for assessing and ensuring the quality of its inspection and monitoring of specific providers on a day-to-day basis. The CQC's annual accounts and annual report are laid before Parliament, and the CQC is publicly accountable through parliamentary scrutiny, including by Select Committees.