Health Education Services

HC Deb 16 April 1985 vol 77 cc125-6

6. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the present health education services; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

The health education service is an important element in our efforts towards promoting good health and preventing disease. Most health districts now have access to the services of health education officers, and in their strategic planning regional health authorities are increasingly recognising the role of health education. In support of this development we have increased our grant to the Health Education Council from £4.5 million in 1979–80 to £9.8 million in the current financial year, an increase of 39 per cent.

Mr. Dormand

Is the Minister aware that, in spite of the laudable work that is being done by the Health Education Council, health promotion is not making the impact that it should be making? Does he agree that a substantial improvement could be effected by the use of joint initiatives, for example with industry or general practitioners? Will he encourage that type of initiative and make available the necessary resources to put it into operation?

Mr. Patten

We have made considerable resources available. We have had a considerable impact over a whole range of areas concerned with prevention. I take the hon. Gentleman's suggestions seriously. They are constructive and I want to examine them. They are much more constructive than the dotty suggestion of the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) to put VAT on sugar. Presumably that will lead to a pledge that a future Labour Government will impose VAT on food.

Mr. Forman

I welcome the increase in the Government's support for health education. Does my hon. Friend accept, however, that more could and should be done, bearing in mind that at about £10 million, only a modest amount of money is being spent on it, particularly as the advertising budgets of the drink and tobacco industries amount to more than £200 million a year?

Mr. Patten

The amount of almost £10 million is simply the sum that goes to the Health Education Council. A substantial amount of money is spent by regional and district health authorities on health promotion. Increasingly, regional health authorities are integrating health promotion into their regional strategic plans.

Mr. Kennedy

Are the Under-Secretary of State or his ministerial colleagues planning to take any steps to examine more rigorously the role of the tobacco industry in terms of promotion, advertising and sports sponsorship?

Mr. Patten

Sports sponsorship is a matter for my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane). The present agreement restricting advertising — it is a voluntary agreement — runs out in about March 1986. Negotiations on that agreement will begin shortly.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that sufficient financial resources are available to deter people from smoking in excess of what is supposedly the average amount?

Mr. Patten

We recently gave an extra £500,000 for a programme devoted entirely at smoking by women. Recent figures show a considerable decline in the sale of cigarettes, from 137 million in 1977 to 98 million last year.