Heart Disease (Hansard, 20 November 1997)

§ Ms Jowell

The Government are committed to a series of initiatives to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease is the biggest killer of men and women in this country. It accounts for about 124,000 deaths a year. We are committed to countering this by tackling the main risk factors associated with coronary heart disease, such as smoking, poor diet and physical inactivity. Smoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death and kills more than 13 people an hour. The prevention of smoking is therefore a high priority for this Government. Details of the Government's strategy to reduce smoking will be set out in a White Paper, which will be published next year.

The significance of physical inactivity as a major risk factor in coronary heart disease is as high as that for smoking because of the prevalence of inactivity. We are, therefore, pressing ahead with plans within the "Active for Life" physical activity campaign to promote the significant health benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity, and to focus not only on people aged 50 and over, but also young women aged 16 to 24 and disabled people in the coming year. In a special exercise, we have also asked the Health Education Authority to investigate and report on the levels of physical activity appropriate for children and young people aged up to 16. The consultation work is currently under way. We are also 313W liaising with colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, to play a key role in promoting active and health modes of transport through the national cycling and walking forums.

In addition to this, last month we published a review of effective interventions in the prevention and treatment of obesity, and work is in hand to establish a directory of weight management services available across the National Health Service in England which have been evaluated for their effectiveness.

Furthermore, the Government's Healthy Living Centres initiative aims to promote health, both physical and mental, and some activities within the initiative are likely to contribute to the prevention of coronary heart disease.