§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the effectiveness of health education in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI have announced today the setting up of a major and wide-ranging review of health education in Scotland. This is one of the four central priority areas recommended in the SHARPEN report and which were accepted by the Government. It is a key aspect of health policy.
The review will consider the purpose of health education programmes, identify the principal objectives of such programmes and the means by which the effectiveness of those objectives can be assessed.
It will also consider and examine the way in which health education is undertaken at both national and local levels and the role of those involved, including the Scottish 132W Health Education Group, health boards and voluntary bodies as well as the Scottish Home and Health Department and the Scottish Education Department.
We hope to appoint management consultants to conduct the review. I expect them to talk to a large number of organisations and individuals in the course of the review and to complete their work towards the end of 1989.