Committee publication · Correspondence · 8 July 2026

Correspondence from Minister Kinnock- Follow up on 24 June session

Summary

Minister Kinnock responds to the Health and Social Care Committee's 24 June questioning on local authority representation on integrated care boards (ICBs). He defends the government's decision to replace joint local authority nomination with strategic authority nomination, arguing it clarifies organisational roles, enables effective partnership at place-level through health and wellbeing boards, and reflects geographical variation across England. He addresses London specifically as a case study.

Key findings

Government views ICBs primarily as strategic commissioners of healthcare, not social care (except NHS-funded continuing healthcare), with local authorities retaining core adult social care commissioning responsibility under the Care Act.
The shift from local authority to strategic authority ICB board representation aims to strengthen place-level partnership through health and wellbeing boards while enabling strategic authorities to support regional economic development alignment.
Minister argues partnership working happens primarily at neighbourhood/place level below ICB board level; statutory board roles are 'a floor not a ceiling' and should not exclude robust non-statutory collaboration.
Strategic authority ICB representatives need not hold statutory social care leads but should provide perspective on local government functions including social care, housing, and public health across both tiers.
Government explicitly rejected prescriptive national frameworks in favour of local determination of governance arrangements, citing London as an example where local voices should shape partnership structures.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

health-and-care-integrationlocal-governmentpublic-financegovernance

Key actors

Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care, Layla Moran MP, Chair of Health and Social Care Committee, Ben Coleman MP, Integrated Care Boards, Health and Wellbeing Boards, Strategic authorities, Local authorities

Notable line

“The statutory partnerships and governance arrangements are best thought of as a floor not a ceiling, recognising the necessity of the ICB board itself being small enough to be effective.”

Key Quotes

“Much of the 10 Year Health Plan depends on effective partnerships to secure better outcomes for people who require both health and social care support”
— Stephen Kinnock MP · Opening statement on NHS-local government partnership importance

“If everyone specialises in everything, little will get done in practice.”
— Stephen Kinnock MP · Explaining rationale for giving organisations clear roles and accountabilities

“Much of the day-to-day alignment and integration in the system between the NHS and local government happens at a more local level than the ICB and the ICB board”
— Stephen Kinnock MP · Justifying focus on place-level rather than ICB board-level partnership

“… neighbourhood health will only work as a joint endeavour between the NHS and local authorities, alongside the voluntary sector, social care providers and other partners in local communities.”
— Stephen Kinnock MP · Describing the neighbourhood health framework approach

“It is wrong, therefore, to suggest that strategic authorities need to have a direct responsibility for delivering or commissioning healthcare or social care in order to contribute to the ICB Board.”
— Stephen Kinnock MP · Addressing criticism that strategic authorities lack healthcare remit

“It is precisely because of these differences (which are often sources of local strength) that we have sought be less prescriptive about governance arrangements than was the case under the previous government.”
— Stephen Kinnock MP · Explaining approach to London and regional variation

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗