§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that the forthcoming green paper on public health safety will contain a commitment to raising health standards of those over the age of 65; and whether specific health targets will be set for older people. [HL2732]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health launched the Green PaperOur Healthier Nation on 5 February. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland published the Green Paper Working Together For a Healthier Scotland on the same day. Both Green Papers set out proposals for new strategies for health covering all age groups, and consultation on both documents ran until 30 April.
In England, we have received over 5,500 responses, in Scotland some 800, many of which commented on the Green Papers' implications of the proposals for the health of older people. We shall take all these comments into consideration as we develop the final version of the separate strategies which we plan to publish as White Papers later this year.
In both countries, working groups have been established to consider the setting of appropriate targets. That work would include the relevance of possible targets to older people.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales published a consultation paper on a health strategy for Wales Better Health, Better Wales in May. Consultation will run until 31 July.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland published the strategy for improving the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland, Well Into 2000, in December 1997.