HC Deb 11 November 1997 vol 300 cc700-1
10. Dr. Palmer

What action he is taking to develop healthy living centres. [13818]

Ms Jowell

Work is under way to ensure that healthy living centres, which will be funded from national lottery money, contribute to the success of the Government's health strategy and complement existing provision. They will provide a focus for local, community action to improve health, which is one of the pillars of the Government's health strategy.

Dr. Palmer

Is not the priority that the Government are giving to health spending for lottery money not vastly preferable to the priority of the previous Government, who were even willing to give one of their own Members of Parliament lottery money for his grandfather's diaries?

Ms Jowell

We attach very high priority to tackling inequality in health, and the spending of that lottery money to develop healthy living centres is one way in which we intend to do so.

Mrs. Roe

Can the Minister confirm that healthy living centres will not offer services currently provided by the NHS from the taxpayers' money?

Ms Jowell

As the hon. Lady is aware, the principle that determines the spending of lottery money is what is called additionality. No, the healthy living centres will not replace the services of the national health service, but will be additional to them, and will be a very important way of our ensuring that people have access to exercise and to advice about health. The centres will help us to promote better health and reduce avoidable illness.

Dr. Brand

Does the Minister agree that the extraordinary decision to exempt formula one racing advertising will undermine the efforts made by those healthy living centres?

Mr. Bermingham

rose—

Dr. Brand

Does not the Minister now need to advise the Prime Minister that that extraordinary decision will undermine the campaign to achieve the aim, which we are all trying to achieve, of deglamorising smoking among young people?

Ms Jowell

Since the object of exempting formula one is to ensure that there is less tobacco advertising, not more, it is part of a policy that is entirely consistent with our development of healthy living centres as part of our public health strategy.