The committee questioned chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, chief financial officer, Julian Kelly, and chief nursing officer, Duncan Burton, on a range of topics, including productivity, digital transformation, capital spending, workforce and winter pressures, as well as their response to findings in the report by the Public Accounts Committee, published today, on NHS financial sustainability.

Moran said: ‘Following today's report by the Public Accounts Committee, this morning's evidence session was an opportunity for NHS leadership to prove their drive and dynamism.

‘Regrettably, we were left disappointed and frustrated. We had hoped for a sharpness in witnesses' responses but were exasperated by the lengthy and diffuse answers that were given to us and will be writing to them to seek the clarity that we expected to hear in the evidence session.'

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘We have the utmost respect for Parliament and its institutions. Our interactions with the Health and Social Care Committee have always been open, constructive and honest – and we take public accountability incredibly seriously.'

The spokesperson said NHSE was unable to share as much information as the committee would have liked due to the issuance of planning guidance on 30 January on its next steps and targets.

‘We agreed in the committee to share any additional detail as required, and we stand ready to meet with MPs and give evidence to Parliamentary committees,' the spokesperson added.