§ Mr. Robert Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Health Education Council has undertaken 182W any particular inquiries or campaigns at his request since May 1979; and whether he intends to request the council to undertake any such inquiries or campaigns.
§ Sir George Young:My right hon. Friend has not asked the Health Education Council to carry out any particular inquiry or campaign since May 1979, but officials are exploring with the council the scope for extending its anti-smoking campaigns, particularly amongst children.
§ Mr. Robert Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current budget of the Health Education Council and the number of persons employed by it; and whether reductions have been made in furtherance of Government policy.
§ Sir George Young:The current budget of the Health Education Council is £4.5 million. The council has a staff of 79.
The Health Education Council has an important and expanding role to play in the Government's policy to encourage the development of preventive health measures. No reduction has been made in the level of public funding of the council as to do so would be contrary to my policy of encouraging the council to develop its health education campaigns.
We have recently carried out a review of the work of the council with the object of improving co-operation between the Department and the council so as to ensure that their campaigns are in close accord with the Government's policies and priorities on prevention and are directed to areas where they have the greatest impact. The council is fully aware of the need for the maximum economy in the deployment of staff and in administrative procedures.