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<p>We announced on 22 July 2014 in a Written Ministerial Statement on the NHS Commissioning
Board: Annual Assessment and Annual Report and Accounts (WS 124-5) that the Government
proposes to uphold all of the existing objectives in the current mandate and maintain
a stable mandate for 2015-16. This announcement was made on 22 July so the annual
assessment could be published before Parliamentary recess and alongside the annual
report of the NHS Commissioning Board (known as NHS England). The timing of the publication
of NHS England’s Annual Report and Accounts was determined by the annual reporting
cycle of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies. The exact date of the Written
Ministerial Statement was subject to other Government business.</p><p> </p><p>The
Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires the Secretary of State to publish and lay
before Parliament its mandate to NHS England. Before specifying any objectives or
requirements in the mandate, the Secretary of State must consult NHS England, Healthwatch
England and any other persons he considers appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>We have been
working closely with NHS England on the approach to the mandate and have been engaging
with stakeholders over the summer, ahead of publishing and laying the final mandate
before Parliament in the autumn. The mandate for 2015-16 will take effect from April
2015.</p><p> </p>
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