HC Deb 10 July 1984 vol 63 c474W
52. Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is contemplating to meet the health care needs of ethnic groups.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Health authorities have the main responsibility for identifying and meeting the health care needs of their population, including ethnic minority groups. Our Department has a working group on Asian health care and employs an adviser on ethnic minority health. She contributes to Government initiatives and gives advice to health authorities. She directed the Stop Rickets Campaign of 1981 to 1983 which the Government ran jointly with Save the Children Fund, and will be directing the Asian Mother and Baby Campaign which, as I announced in my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North East (Mrs. Short) on 21 June, at column240, we shall be launching soon. We are also considering whether authorities require any further guidance on meeting the health care needs of ethnic minority groups.