Select Committee on Public Health

Select Committee on Public Health
Name	Select Committee on Public Health
Type	Select committee
Chamber	House of Commons
Established	20th century
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom

Select Committee on Public Health

The Select Committee on Public Health is a parliamentary committee constituted to examine matters relating to public health, healthcare delivery, and population health interventions, interacting with institutions such as Department of Health and Social Care, National Health Service (England), Public Health England, NHS England, and regulatory bodies like the Care Quality Commission and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The committee conducts inquiries, takes evidence from stakeholders including representatives from World Health Organization, British Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of General Practitioners, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and submits reports that influence legislation debated in the House of Commons, House of Lords, and scrutinised by ministers such as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The committee has interfaced with high-profile events and frameworks including responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, analyses of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, and reviews tied to crises like the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout and outbreaks such as SARS and Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.

History

The committee originated amid reforms in the late 20th and early 21st centuries alongside reorganisations involving the Department of Health, Health and Social Care Act 2012, and the creation or replacement of agencies including Public Health England and NHS England. Early iterations drew on precedent from select committees that examined public inquiries like the Shipman Inquiry and the Francis Report following investigations into failures at hospitals such as Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. Its remit expanded during crises including the 2009 swine flu pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting engagement with actors such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, National Audit Office, Imperial College London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and advisory bodies like Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.

Mandate and Powers

The committee exercises powers to summon witnesses, request documents, and publish reports under procedures akin to other select committees in the House of Commons, drawing on precedents from inquiries by the Public Accounts Committee and the Health and Social Care Committee. It scrutinises statutory frameworks including the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and interacts with regulators such as the Care Quality Commission and General Medical Council while considering guidance from bodies like the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and international protocols exemplified by the International Health Regulations. The committee’s powers enable it to call chief executives from organisations including NHS England, Public Health England, and private providers such as Serco or Bupa where relevant, and to influence funding decisions reviewed by the Treasury and scrutinised in debates at Westminster.

Membership and Leadership

Membership has included MPs from parties such as the Conservative Party (UK), Labour Party (UK), Liberal Democrats (UK), Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, and representatives from devolved administrations including Welsh Government and Scottish Government observers. Chairs have been prominent parliamentarians who previously served on committees like the Commons Public Accounts Committee or as ministers in departments such as the Department of Health and Social Care; notable figures engaging with the committee have worked alongside public health leaders like Dame Sally Davies, Chris Whitty, and Jonathan Van-Tam. The committee often co-opts specialists and liaises with institutions such as King's College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and think tanks like the Nuffield Trust and The Health Foundation to bolster expertise.

Major Inquiries and Reports

The committee has conducted inquiries into vaccine deployment and regulation linked to manufacturers such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer–BioNTech, examined responses to pandemics including the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2009 swine flu pandemic, and scrutinised patient safety scandals highlighted by the Francis Report and investigations into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. Reports have evaluated screening programmes influenced by evidence from institutions like Public Health England, UK Biobank, NHS Blood and Transplant, and academic centres including University College London. The committee’s publications have intersected with legal and policy instruments such as the Human Rights Act 1998, the Care Act 2014, and international agreements like the International Health Regulations.

Impact on Public Policy

Findings and recommendations have prompted ministerial responses from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, policy shifts within NHS England, and incorporation into legislation debated at Westminster Hall and committees in the House of Lords. The committee’s influence is traceable in funding reallocations scrutinised by the Treasury, regulatory reforms involving the Care Quality Commission, and shifts in clinical guidance endorsed by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, often informed by evidence from academic centres such as Imperial College London and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and charitable bodies like Wellcome Trust and British Heart Foundation.

Controversies and Criticism

The committee has faced criticism from stakeholders including some clinical bodies such as the British Medical Association and private providers like Bupa over perceived politicisation, transparency concerns echoed by watchdogs such as the National Audit Office, and disputes over access to documents involving organisations like Public Health England or NHS England. Debates have mirrored wider controversies involving inquiries such as the Hillsborough disaster and the Shipman Inquiry about procedural fairness, evidentiary standards, and balancing rapid public accountability with due process, drawing commentary from media outlets including BBC, The Guardian, The Times, and think tanks like Institute for Government.

Category:Parliamentary committees of the United Kingdom