Commentary on Sections Schedule 7 – Part 1: amendments of other enactments Section 60 - Co-operation with bodies exercising functions in relation to public health
636.This section inserts a new section 247B into the NHS Act 2006. New section 247B imposes a duty of co-operation on all individuals or organisations who carry out health protection functions similar to those of the Secretary of State under new section 2A of the NHS Act. They must co-operate with the Secretary of State, and in turn he must co-operate with them.
637.This could include circumstances when the Secretary of State’s activity takes place overseas and co-operation between the Secretary of State and other organisations is required. The intention is to make sure that the system works in a co-ordinated and coherent way to deal with threats to public health. Subsection (2) of new section 247B provides for co-operation between the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State.
638.Under subsections (3) and (5) of new section 247B, the Secretary of State and individuals or organisations would be able to charge for the costs of their co-operation, on a costs recovery basis, when co-operation is requested.