HC Deb 29 June 1976 vol 914 cc131-2W
Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to increase the introduction of preventive medicine in schools, colleges, workplaces and elsewhere.

Dr. Owen

The Government's recently published consultative document "Prevention and Health: Everybody's Business" aims to stimulate interest in prevention in all sections of the community and to encourage health and local authorities and others to give greater attention to prevention in planning priorities and allocating resources. Responsibility for schools curricula rests with local education authorities, but I am aware that local authorities are co-operating closely with health authorities, the Schools Council and the Health Education Council in developing health education in schools. Discussions are in progress between officials of my Department and the Health and Safety Executive with a view to the publication later this year of a consulta- tive document on occupational health services, as the second in a series of specialised follow-up papers to "Prevention and Health: Everybody's Business".