Health and Social Care Act 2012

11 The Secretary of State’s duty as to protection of public health

After section 2 of the National Health Service Act 2006 insert—

“Provision for protection or improvement of public health

2A Secretary of State’s duty as to protection of public health

(1) The Secretary of State must take such steps as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of protecting the public in England from disease or other dangers to health.

(2) The steps that may be taken under subsection (1) include—

(a) the conduct of research or such other steps as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for advancing knowledge and understanding;

(b) providing microbiological or other technical services (whether in laboratories or otherwise);

(c) providing vaccination, immunisation or screening services;

(d) providing other services or facilities for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness;

(e) providing training;

(f) providing information and advice;

(g) making available the services of any person or any facilities.

(3) Subsection (4) applies in relation to any function under this section which relates to—

(a) the protection of the public from ionising or non-ionising radiation, and

(b) a matter in respect of which the Health and Safety Executive has a function.

(4) In exercising the function, the Secretary of State must—

(a) consult the Health and Safety Executive, and

(b) have regard to its policies.”