HC Deb 08 April 1986 vol 95 cc75-6W
Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the health education budget has been spent on education regarding dietary and eating patterns.

Mr. Whitney

The Health Education Council, which is Government funded, spent 1.4 per cent. of its budget (£142,000) in 1985–86 on activity relating to diet and nutrition. Information on the percentage of health authorities' budgets spent on this subject is not held centrally.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are used to assess the effectiveness of particular health campaigns in health education areas.

Mr. Whitney

Health authorities, which are responsible for their own health education activities, assess the effectiveness of specific campaigns in accordance with their own criteria. National campaigns run by the Health Education Council are normally subject to pre-testing and subsequent evaluation in accordance with criteria appropriate to the particular circumstances.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sums of money have been spent on health education in each year since 1960.

Mr. Whitney

Total Government funds allocated to the Health Education Council in each of the years since it was set up are:

£ million
1968–69* 0.1
1969–70 0.2
1970–71 0.3
1971–72 0.6
1972–73 0.8
1973–74 1.6
1974–75 1.0
1975–76 1.7
1976–77 1.5
1977–78 3.1
1978–79 3.7
1979–80 4.5
1980–81 5.0
1981–82 6.6
1982–83 8.6
1983–84 9.3
1984–85 9.6
1985–86 10.1
* (seven months).

The council undertakes a wide variety of health education programmes and carries out the planning and promotion of health education at national level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Information on the proportion of health authorities' budgets spent on health education is not held centrally.