§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2001–04. [185126]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department is a key player in supporting the Government's objective of building a fair, inclusive and economically thriving society through improving and protecting the health and social well being of the people of England. Sustainable development is an intrinsic part of this aim.
As the Department's Green Minister, I have a number of responsibilities that help underpin sustainable development goals. These include health inequalities, healthy eating, for example, '5 a Day', and physical activity, such as activity co-ordination teams. My on-going portfolio of work in these, and other, areas actively contributes to the delivery of sustainable development. Further details of the Department's work in these areas can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/ PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/fs/en
Recent work has centred on the Department's public health consultation, Choosing Health? We are working closely with colleagues in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that our proposals in the 'Choosing Health?' consultation encompass the broad aims of sustainable development, particularly with respect to improving health, promoting community development and social justice.
I recently spoke about the 'Choosing Health?' consultation at a meeting of the sustainable development taskforce.