§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the demand placed on NHS resources by the provision of preventive health measures in(a) Staffordshire Health Authority and (b) the United Kingdom. [105161]
§ Yvette CooperThe South Staffordshire Health Authority published "Inequalities in Health" in March 1998 identifying its main health needs. It has a higher percentage than the national average of GPs engaged on health promotion generally, and in the management of diabetes and asthma specifically (nationally: 98 per cent., 96 per cent. and 96 per cent. respectively; South Staffordshire: 99 per cent., 98 per cent. and 99 per cent.). £274,000 was allocated this year to the North Staffordshire Health Action Zone for smoking cessation work.
For 1999–2000 health authorities received an average increase in their allocations of 6.6 per cent.
Across England, health authorities, in partnership with National Health Service trusts, primary care groups, local authorities and local stakeholders, determine how best to use their funds. Health promotion in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.