HC Deb 06 December 1977 vol 940 cc654-5W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many area health authorities have appointed health education officers; and if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those authorities which have failed to make such appointments.

Mr. Moyle

78 of the 90 area health authorities in England have so far appointed health education officers. I understand that AHAs which have yet to make appointments are Bury, Cumbria, Isle of Wight, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Sefton, Solihull, Somerset, South Tyneside, Trafford and Warwickshire, and that some of them are planning to appoint health education staff as soon as possible.

The consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England" stressed the importance of health education and asked authorities, whose existing health education work was limited, to review the need for greater effort. Health education was again emphasised in "Priorities in the Health and Social Services: The Way Forward", published in September 1977.