S. 22 in force at 1.10.2012 for specified purposes by S.I. 2012/1831, art. 2(2)

S. 22 in force at 1.4.2013 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/section/22Health and Social Care Act 2012An Act to establish and make provision about a National Health Service Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups and to make other provision about the National Health Service in England; to make provision about public health in the United Kingdom; to make provision about regulating health and adult social care services; to make provision about public involvement in health and social care matters, scrutiny of health matters by local authorities and co-operation between local authorities and commissioners of health care services; to make provision about regulating health and social care workers; to establish and make provision about a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; to establish and make provision about a Health and Social Care Information Centre and to make other provision about information relating to health or social care matters; to abolish certain public bodies involved in health or social care; to make other provision about health care; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-06Expert Participation2026-05-05Health and Social Care Act 2012s. 105(3A)(3B)Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013Sch. 14 para. 21s. 103(3)Health and Social Care Act 2012s. 106(3A)(3B)Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013Sch. 14 para. 22s. 103(3)Health and Social Care Act 2012specified provision(s)The Health and Social Care Act 2012 (Commencement No.3, Transitional, Savings and Transitory Provisions and Amendment) Order 2012art. 15Health and Social Care Act 2012Pt. 9 Ch. 1BHealth and Care Act 2022s. 96s. 186(6)Health and Social Care Act 2012s. 259(1)(aa)(b)Health and Care Act 2022s. 98(b)s. 186(6)Health and Social Care Act 2012s. 259(10A)(10B)Health and Care Act 2022s. 98(h)s. 186(6)Health and Social Care Act 2012s. 259(1)(aa)The Health and Social Care Information Centre (Transfer of Functions, Abolition and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023Sch. para. 17(11)(a)(iii)reg. 3reg. 1(4)Health and Social Care Act 2012s. 102(4)(ba)The Competition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019reg. 28reg. 1(1)PART 1The health service in EnglandArrangements for provision of health services
22Exercise of public health functions of the Secretary of State

After section 7 of the National Health Service Act 2006 insert—Exercise of Secretary of State's public health functions

7AExercise of Secretary of State's public health functions(1)

The Secretary of State may arrange for a body mentioned in subsection (2) to exercise any of the public health functions of the Secretary of State.

(2)

Those bodies are—

(a)

the Board;

(b)

a clinical commissioning group;

(c)

a local authority (within the meaning of section 2B).

(3)

The power conferred by subsection (1) includes power to arrange for such a body to exercise any functions of the Secretary of State that are exercisable in connection with those functions (including the powers conferred by section 12).

(4)

Where the Secretary of State arranges (under subsection (1)) for the Board to exercise a function, the Board may arrange for a clinical commissioning group to exercise that function.

(5)

Any rights acquired, or liabilities (including liabilities in tort) incurred, in respect of the exercise by a body mentioned in subsection (2) of any function exercisable by it by virtue of this section are enforceable by or against that body (and no other person).

(6)

Powers under this section may be exercised on such terms as may be agreed, including terms as to payment.