Policy paper

Annex A: wider guidance for arm's length bodies

Published 6 January 2022

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

The following general guidance and instructions apply to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) may require the HFEA to provide additional management information on an ad hoc basis. Where this is the case, the department will provide the HFEA with clear reasons for the request and will allow as much time as possible to comply with the request.

General

• the framework agreement

• appropriate adaptations of sections of Corporate governance in central government departments: code of good practice and its related guidance

• Code of conduct for board members of public bodies

• Guidance for ministerial appointments to public bodies

• Managing public money

• Public Sector Internal Audit Standards

• Orange Book: Management of Risk – Principles and Concepts

• Government Financial Reporting Manual

• relevant Dear Accounting Officer letters

• Government Functional Standard GovS 013: Counter Fraud

• the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s Principles of Good Administration

• Partnerships with arm’s length bodies: code of good practice

• appropriate adaptations of sections of the Cabinet Office’s Public bodies – a guide for departments (Chapter 5): Public body staff in Non-departmental public bodies: characteristics and governance

• relevant Freedom of Information Act guidance and instructions from the Cabinet Office’s Freedom of Information Code of Practice

• other relevant guidance and instructions issued by HM Treasury in respect of whole of government accounts

• other relevant instructions and guidance issued by the central departments

• specific instructions and guidance issued by DHSC, including requests for information

• any departmental plans to ensure continuity of services

• recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee, or by other parliamentary authorities, that have been accepted by the government

• in line with Managing public money, have regard to the relevant Functional Standards

Specific areas in agreement

The role of the sponsorship team

• Partnerships with arm’s length bodies: code of good practice

Accounting officers

• Chapter 3 of Managing public money

• relevant Dear Accounting Officer letters

Governance and accountability

• Corporate governance in central government departments: code of good practice

• relevant Functional Standards

• Annex 3.1 of Managing public money

Appointment and responsibilities of the chief executive, board and chair

• Public Appointments No 2, Order in Council

• Governance Code for Public Appointments

• the Seven Principles of Public Life

• the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s Principles of Good Administration

Individual board member responsibilities

• 12 Principles of Governance for all Public Body NEDs

Delegated and spending authorities

• Annex 2.2 and other appropriate sections of Managing public money

• DHSC Delegations letter

Procurement

• Commercial Operating Standards

• Grants Standards

• The Public Contract Regulations 2015

Risk management

• Management of Risk Principles and Concepts (Orange Book)

Counter fraud and theft

• Government Functional Standard GovS 013: Counter Fraud

• fraud annex 4.9 of Managing public money

Human resources

• DHSC pay framework for very senior managers in special health authorities

• pay and conditions of service Civil Service management code

• senior pay guidance Guidance for approval of senior pay

• Public bodies: a guide for departments (Chapter 5)

• Public sector pay and terms: guidance note

• proposals on severance rules, chapter 4 of Managing public money

Finance (banking and managing cash, annual report and accounts, audit)

• Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM)

• Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS)

• fees and charges guide, chapter 6 of Managing public money

• banking and managing cash, Annex 5.6 of Managing public money

Arrangements in the event that a public body is dissolved

• Public bodies: a guide for departments (Chapter 10: dissolving a public body)

DHSC specific

Estates and sustainability

• Greening Government Commitment targets

• Office of Government Property Controls and standards for office accommodation (available from DHSC)

• the Department of Health and Social Care’s Property Asset Management procedures (available from DHSC)

Information governance and security

• All documents relating to government security

• HMG IA Standard No. 6: Protecting Personal Data and Managing Information Risk (available from DHSC)

• Guidance on the keeping, management and destruction of records Code of Practice on the Management of Records issued under section 46 the Freedom of Information Act 2000

• Information Security Management: NHS Code of Practice

• Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice

• NHS Records Management Code of Practice

• NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit

Transparency

• appropriate sections of Managing public money

• appropriate sections of framework agreement

• public and parliamentary accountability protocol (Annex B)

• communications responsibilities