§ 4. Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the outcome of the June EU Health Council meeting. [3469]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Ms Tessa Jowell)I represented the Government at the meeting. The Council adopted a decision on a Community action programme on health monitoring and a common position on a proposed Community network for the surveillance of communicable diseases. It also discussed a communication from the Commission on combating tobacco consumption, and a presidency paper on blood safety and self-sufficiency in the Community.
§ Mr. CunninghamDid my hon. Friend also discuss at the Council the impact of poor housing and environment, and of poverty in general, on public health?
§ Ms JowellI thank my hon. Friend for his question. As that was my first Health Council meeting, I briefed other European Health Ministers on my appointment as the United Kingdom Government's first Minister for public health, and made clear our Government's commitment to tackle the inequalities that compromise the health of children and adults in this country.