HC Deb 06 July 1999 vol 334 cc489-90W
23. Ms Dari Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of current levels of health inequalities in England. [88260]

Ms Jowell

Reducing health inequalities is one of the main aims of our health strategy and a shared national priority for health and social services. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State appointed Sir Donald Acheson to lead an independent inquiry into inequalities in health which, among other things, reviewed the latest available information and summarised the evidence of inequalities. Sir Donald's report, published last November, has assisted the development of our health strategy which we shall be publishing as a White Paper, together with a report on action being taken across Government to reduce inequalities in health.