§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the funding of organisations working with elderly people to enable them to develop additional health education programmes.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Department grant-aids a number of voluntary organisations under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, several of which include a health education element in their programmes. The overall funding available through this source will be increased to £15,680,000 for the financial year 1991–92. We are currently receiving applications for funding, all of which will be carefully considered. It is too early to say at this stage what proportion of the overall funding will be allocated to organisations working with and for elderly people.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the total saving to the Health Education Authority arising from the ending of the health in old age programme.
§ Mr. DorrellDuring 1990–91 £106,000 will be spent by the Health Education Authority on its health in old age programme. The ending of the Programme is not intended to achieve a financial saving, but to enable the Authority to utilise its resources more effectively by addressing the health education needs of elderly people across the whole range of its activities rather than by being restricted to a specific programme. It is too early to say what resources the Authority will devote to the health education needs of elderly people in 1991–92 and beyond.
§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the future of the age well programme.
§ Mr. DorrellOfficials are in discussion with Age Concern, who have responsibility for the age well programme, to discuss its future. We are not aware of any representations other than those made by the hon. Member.