Commentary on Sections Part 2 – Further provision about public health Section 56 – Abolition of Health Protection Agency
620.This section abolishes the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and repeals the Health Protection Agency Act 2004. This is part of a process of reforming the systems for protecting and improving public health. New sections 2A and 2B of the NHS Act 2006, inserted by sections 11 and 12 of this Act, confer on the Secretary of State and certain local authorities duties and powers relating to public health and specify examples of steps that may be appropriate under those duties. The section also introduces Schedule 7 to the Act, which makes amendments to other legislation which are consequential on the HPA’s abolition. Subsection (3) provides that the repeal of the HPA Act 2004 does not include the amendment made by that Act to Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, which relates to the appointment of medical inspectors.