§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy. [165441]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department of Health's strategy on sustainable development and the environment is in line with the Government's overall sustainable development strategy, in which health ("expected healthy years of life") is one of the 15 key headline indicators. The Department is currently implementing a change programme which will result in shifting responsibility to the front line and focusing on providing strategic leadership to the National Health Service and social care. A review of the sustainable development strategy is currently under way as part of this process.
The Department's strategy should be viewed in the context of overall health strategies. On-going actions to raise awareness, integrate sustainable development into policy making and enhance operational activities for both the central Department and through advice to the NHS ensures that the Department continues to 418W contribute to the Government's overall strategy on sustainable development. Progress is reported on the Department's website at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/About Us/AimsAndObjectives/SustainableDevelopment/fs/en
The NHS Estates Agency (NHSE) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA)—both Executive Agencies of the Department—have their own sustainable development/environmental strategies in place. The NHSE has issued a New Environmental Strategy for the NHS and Sustainable Development in the NHS as guidance for the NHS. NHS PASA has a sustainable development policy which it published in February 2003. This policy describes the framework within which NHS PASA will conduct its activities in order to contribute towards global pursuits of sustainable development. There are links to these Agencies' websites at the above address.
§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the meetings at which his Department has been present on the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers. [165442]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department's Green Minister is a member of the ENV(G) Cabinet sub-Committee. Additionally, officials regularly attend working groups and other fora which report directly to ENV(G), related to the development of theFramework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. In particular, my officials have been closely involved in the development of procurement targets for the Framework and the Department is represented on the sustainable procurement group.
As part of the public sector food procurement initiative, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is working with government departments to develop food action plans. The Department's NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and its NHS Estates Agency have been working with DEFRA to develop a food procurement action plan which sets a framework and objectives for those Agencies and the wider National Health Service.
§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote the delivery of sustainable development within Government. [165448]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department is contributing to the Government's forthcoming consultation on the review of the United Kingdom strategy for sustainable development. One of the aims of the review is to step up action in the delivery of sustainable development.
The Department also has an important consultation—Choosing Health?—in train to identify action to improve people's health in preparation for a White Paper to be published this summer. Both consultations will have many aims and goals in common and will be an important means of promoting the sustainable development agenda.
The Department is also leading on cross-Government work on Tackling Health Inequalities: A programme for action, which was published in July 2003 and sets out plans to tackle health inequalities over the next three 419W years; and on developing a Food and Health Action Plan. Taking this work forward will make a significant contribution to the delivery of sustainable development.