§ 3. Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)What discussions he has held with (a) the health authority and (b) health trusts in Camden and Islington concerning the operation of the health action zone. [92586]
(The Minister of State, Department of Health Mr. John Hutton)Ministers have not yet had meetings with local health authority or trust officials on the progress of the Camden and Islington health action zone. However, my ministerial colleagues and I are currently visiting all the newly established second-wave health action zones, including Camden and Islington. I am pleased to inform my hon. Friend that I shall be visiting Camden and Islington health action zone on 10 November. I hope very much that he will be able to join me.
§ Mr. CorbynI thank the Minister for his answer, and look forward to his visit on 10 November. He will be 240 aware that the reason for the declaration of the health action zone was the high infant mortality and low life expectancy in the district, and the high incidence of notifiable diseases. What resources does he expect to bring to bear to improve general practitioner services and, in particular, to make it possible to examine the serious link between child poverty and child ill health in the area? What consultation does he intend to undertake with community organisations and community groups representing those who are suffering because of a combination of poverty, poor housing conditions and ill health?
§ Mr. HuttonOver the next three years, nearly £8 million will be spent on developing health action zone proposals in my hon. Friend's constituency and in others in Camden and Islington. I also reassure my hon. Friend that the principal focus of the HAZ will be on the development of initiatives relating to primary care, and that we shall involve the local community in every way possible. We shall focus particularly on teenage pregnancies and the plight of those in poverty, to whom my hon. Friend referred.
It is a characteristic of all health action zones that programmes developed locally are done so in full consultation with all local partners. We consider that to be a critical way of tackling some of the health inequalities—two words that the Conservatives always refused to use when they were in government. We are serious about tackling health inequalities. My hon. Friend's constituency includes some of the most deprived parts of the country; we look forward to working with him, and with others locally, to improve the situation and tackle the root causes of ill health.