HL Deb 23 February 1998 vol 586 cc73-4WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that the forthcoming Green Paper on public health strategy will contain a commitment to raising health standards of those over the age of 65; and whether specific health targets will be set for older people. [HL559]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health launched the Government's Green PaperOur Healthier Nation with a statement in another place on 5 February. The Green Paper sets out a new strategy for health in England. The strategy's two key aims are:

  • to improve the health of the population as a whole by increasing the length of people's lives and the number of years people spend free from illness; and
  • to improve the health of the worst off in society and to narrow the health gap.

Those two aims clearly apply to people over 65. The strategy also proposes four national targets for improving health. Two—for reducing accidents and suicides—are not couched in age-specific terms. The remaining two—for reducing mortality from heart disease and stroke and from cancers—are both proposed for people aged under 65. Death cannot be prevented indefinitely, so these targets have been set to recognise the fact that it is amongst younger people that the earliest signs of progress are likely to become apparent. The targets will therefore provide a sensitive early indication of progress overall. Efforts to reduce heart disease and cancer mortality will not be restricted only to those people aged under 65 years.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland published the Green Paper Working Together For a Healthier Scotland on the same day. The Green Paper sets out proposals for improving the health of the population in Scotland.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales will shortly be publishing a consultation paper on a health strategy for Wales.

The strategy for improving the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland, Well Into 2000, was published in December 1997.

Consultation on both the English and Scottish Green Papers runs to 30 April.