§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessments have been undertaken by his Department on the relationship between poverty and premature death in Wales. [5951]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy Department has not made any specific assessment on this relationship. There is already a considerable body of scientific evidence to suggest an association between socio-economic classification and mortality, although it is not clear whether it is low income or other associated factors such as smoking, poor housing or poor diet which are more important.
Health authorities are responsible for the health of the populations of their respective areas.