Details of the HSCIC's financial arrangements, including funding allocation, in-year reporting, preparation of accounts, and the accounting officer's responsibilities in relation to financial management and the HSCIC's accounts, are provided in Annex B.
HSCIC's overall revenue and capital resources are set out in a formal budget allocation letter issued by the Department, providing detail of the budgetary limits as per HM Treasury guidance, which HSCIC must not breach without specific agreement with the Department.
The HSCIC's delegated authorities are issued to it by the Department (on behalf of HM Treasury), including those areas where the HSCIC must obtain the Department or HM Treasury's written approval before proceeding. The HSCIC will adhere to these delegated authorities.
The HSCIC must demonstrate that it is delivering its functions in the most efficient manner, and must provide timely returns to the Department where these are required either by it or by other departments within central government.
The HSCIC, as with all public bodies and government departments, must operate within any relevant set of efficiency controls. These controls may affect areas of spend such as information communications technology (ICT), marketing and advertising, procurement, consultancy, the public sector estate, recruitment, major projects or strategic supplier management. The Department will ensure that the HSCIC is kept informed of any efficiency controls in operation.
As part of the government's approach to managing and delivering public service at a reduced cost base, the HSCIC, as with all other arm's length bodies and the Department, will in future endeavour to receive its back office support, including finance and accounting, HR, payroll, procurement and ICT, internal audit, through a shared or standardised service approach. Details of the services between the HSCIC and the service provider will be set out in contract or, where appropriate, a service level agreement (SLA), subject to the overarching business requirements of the organisation.
A shared or standardised value for money approach will also apply to the use of estate. The HSCIC will comply with guidance on property and asset management, as set out in Cabinet Office guidelines on use of the estate as set out under National Property Controls.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013 enable HSCIC to charge for the exercise of certain functions conferred on it by directions of NHS England. Further details are in Annex B.