§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent annual national survey of lifestyle conducted by his Department; [84467]
(2) what the cost to his Department was in 2001–02 of conducting a national survey of lifestyle; and what benefits have resulted therefrom. [84461]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department commissions a number of annual surveys that include questions on lifestyle issues, such as the Health Survey for England.
The annual cost of the Health Survey for England is around £2.8 million. The cost of the other survey activity is around £0.7 million.
The Health Survey for England is a major vehicle for providing valuable annual data about the nation's health and the information is used to underpin strategies for promoting better health. It is unique in providing objective measures of health such as measurements of height, weight, blood pressure and analysis of blood 681W samples, together with information from questionnaires. It also contains a wealth of socio-demographic data, which is valuable for monitoring inequalities in health. It has established itself as an important research tool.
Secondary analysis of health survey information on many topics has been published in national and international journals.
Copies of all the surveys commissioned by the Department are routinely placed in the Library. The next report of the Health Survey for England is due to be published on 20 January.