"Policy Appraisal and Health"

HC Deb 19 December 1995 vol 268 cc1140-1W

Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish guidance on how to assess the impacts of policies on health. [7438]

Mr. Horam

I am today publishing a guide, "Policy Appraisal and Health". Copies have been placed in the Library and will be distributed to Government Departments, local authorities, health authorities and other interested organisations.

The guide is designed to give practical guidance to Government Departments and other public sector agencies on how to assess the impact of their policies on health. It describes how to incorporate health impacts into the wider assessments of costs and benefits required for policy development. The advice is intended to be helpful and to encourage consistency throughout the public sector but is not mandatory.

Appraisal in Government is concerned with the best use of the nation's resources. Health is a key aspect of the nation's well-being. Any significant effects on the health of the nation should therefore be assessed and taken into account.

The costs and benefits of alternative policies, programmes and projects need to be carefully compared in order to make best use of the nation's resources. The Treasury's guidance, "Economic Appraisal in Central Government", explains how to do this. The guide I am publishing today provides specific advice in the health field to supplement the more general Treasury guidance.

The guide was prepared with assistance from many Government Departments and other organisations. I am grateful to them for their contribution to producing this useful guide.