§ 29. Ms MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he plans to take in response to Sir Donald Acheson's report on the causes of health inequalities. [57379]
§ Ms JowellSir Donald's report will be published shortly.
The Government are committed to taking action to redress the effects of health inequalities. This is one of the key aims of the Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation", published in February this year. Action is already being taken through a broad range of Government initiatives, notably the Social Exclusion Unit's report "Bringing Britain Together". Cutting health inequalities is one of the top priorities for local health and social services, as identified in "Modernising Health and Social Services: National Priorities Guidance 1999/2000–2001/02", issued recently. Early next year we will publish our White Paper on a health strategy for England with further proposals for action.