§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the Departmental Review into Health Inequalities has established a link between cold, damp housing conditions and ill health; what is the estimated cost to the National Health Service of treating cold-related illness; and what remedial measures he plans for the future. [19700]
§ Ms JowellThe conclusions of the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health will not be published until the summer of 1998, but research shows that the most significant health risks from poor housing are associated with cold and damp, including respiratory problems and circulatory conditions.
Reliable estimates on the cost to the National Health Service of treating cold-related illnesses are not available.
The Government have enacted a range of measures to help pensioners keep warm in winter. Value Added Tax on fuel has been out to 5 per cent. and from April 1998 the gas levy will be reduced to zero. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 25 November a winter fuel payment for all pensioners, divided into a payment of £20 for over five million pensioner households and £50 for the 1.7 million pensioner households on income support. He also announced a cut in VAT to 5 per cent. for the installation of energy efficiency materials carried out under Government-funded grant schemes, allowing an extra 40,000 grants to be paid each year. The Government's new programme of training and jobs for young people will expand the national home energy efficiency scheme.
Contractors and voluntary organisations will be encouraged to take on young people to insulate the homes of those most in need. In addition, the Capital Receipts Initiative will help local authorities to carry out energy efficiency improvements on homes. The Government's Home Energy Efficiency Scheme has so far helped 2.4 million households by paying grants for energy efficiency improvements. Four hundred thousand homes will benefit from the scheme this year.
We will shortly be publishing for consultation a Green Paper on the new public health strategy for England.