§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what programmes have been developed by the Health Promotion Authority for Wales as that authority's contribution to tackling the problem of alcohol misuse in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe Health Promotion Authority for Wales's national "substance misuse" programme includes action targeted at alcohol misuse in the Principality, in partnership with voluntary and local agencies, eg. health education publications, components of the authority's mobile life education centre units, and support for Drinkwise Day.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his replies of 4 December,Official Report, column 74, in regard to alcohol misuse, if he will make it his policy to concentrate the available finances on the provision of local services.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettYes.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has met the chairman of chief executive of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales to discuss the work undertaken in the past, and to be undertaken in the future, by that authority in respect of developing positive approaches to alcohol and discouraging people from misuse of alcohol; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Nicholas BennettAlthough my right hon. Friend has met both the chairman and chief executive of the authority, he did not discuss programme planning on that occasion. However, his predecessor had several meetings with the authority leading up to the launch of their "Health for All" in Wales strategy document in January 1990. That strategy includes the goal of reducing substantially the misuse of alcohol in the Principality and a series of detailed targets for specific improvements for various age ranges of the population. Action to achieve the strategy's goals and targets will be taken by the authority and a range of other organisations in partnership. The authority will publish a firm three-year action programme in the spring.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the funds available to the Health Promotion Authority for Wales have been allocated(a) directly or (b) indirectly to work relating to alcohol misuse in each year since the establishment of that authority; and what proportion he intends should be devoted to such purposes in 1991–92.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe following proportions of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales' exchequer budget have been directly allocated to alcohol misuse work:
- 1987–88—not available.
- 1988–89—4.per cent.
- 1989–90—6.5 per cent.
- 1990–91—1.3 per cent.
Figures are not available for work indirectly relating to alcohol misuse—for example, elements of the heartbeat Wales and cancer programmes. My right hon. Friend had not yet decided the detail of the authority's budget for 1991–92.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales wht level of service, according to what criteria he intends shall be achieved in each county of Wales as a result of the finances his Department is to make available in respect of alcohol abuse.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettIt is for local and health authorities to determine the level of service necessary to combat alcohol misuse in their areas. Central funding will be used to support such local strategies.