§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "The Health of the Nation" [258]
§ Mr. Sackville"The Health of the Nation" is a Government strategy. It is subject to environmental monitoring and appraisal in the same way as other Government policies.
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§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if (1) "The Health of the Nation" Cm 1523, was(a) subject to and (b) modified on account of environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in policy appraisal and the environment produced by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the appraisal; [256]
(2) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "The Health of the Nation" were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [257]
§ Mr. Sackville"The Health of the Nation" is a Government strategy agreed after widespread consultation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment was fully involved in that consultation and is a member of the Cabinet sub-committee which oversees development and monitoring of the strategy. Healthy environments are one of the "healthy settings" which "The Health of the Nation" recognises as being important to public health. The Government's policy on environmental matters is described in the Environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance" and the sustainable development strategy.