§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether, in the light of the statement, Official Report, 21 November 1986, column 805, by the Secretary of State for Social Services, that the Health Education Council was to be reconstituted as a special health authority, he will make a statement on the future of health education in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsYes. I have decided that the health educational interests of Wales will be best served by a separate special health authority. The new body will take over the role in Wales of the Health Education Council, will carry on the work of the Health Education Advisory Committee for Wales and will assume responsibility for Heartbeat Wales. I envisage that Wales will benefit from the promotional aspects of the national AIDS campaign to be undertaken by the English authority, but that the Welsh AIDS campaign will continue its work in Wales under the aegis of the Welsh authority.
The new body should give a renewed impetus to health education in Wales and will further the very important work already carried out by the Health Education Council and the Health Education Advisory Committee for Wales. It will be in an advantageous position to bring together the activities of the various statutory and voluntary bodies in the Principality who have an interest in health education.
Much work needs to be done to bring the authority into being quickly and I shall make a further statement when decisions have been made on membership, staffing and resources.