§ Mr. KynochTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to seek to improve the health of the people of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangWe are today publishing "Scotland's Health —A Challenge To Us All". This new policy statement, which updates the policy statement "Health Education in Scotland" published a year ago, announces a range of measures which the Government propose to take in Scotland in relation to smoking and diet, to develop action on accidents, to promote health in schools and at the workplace and otherwise to seek to improve the health of the people of Scotland. I and all my ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Office will be actively involved in pushing these initiatives forward.
Last year, we set targets, and defined priority areas, for seeking to improve health in Scotland, and we also set up the Health Education Board for Scotland, with an increased budget, to lead the health education effort. This further statement builds on those developments.
The Government and the NHS have important roles to play in improving Scotland's health record, and that 264W objective is high on our agenda. But others also have important parts to play, including the local authorities, the voluntary sector, employers, the food industry and the media. Above all, individual members of the public can help to safeguard their own health by adopting healthy lifestyles. This new policy statement, of which a copy is being placed in the Library, provides a framework within which we can all work to ensure that the Scottish people live longer and healthier lives.