HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 c25W
Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate his Department has made of the percentage of the London ethnic minority population who will have access to the initiatives introduced by the London NHS Race Equality Unit; [123084]

(2) how much funding has been allocated to the London NHS Race Equality Unit in the current financial year. [123086]

Mr. Denham

The National Health Service Executive London Regional Office has established a London NHS Race Equality Group, not Unit. It will not be funding projects or local initiatives, but through its advice to the regional chairman and director it will promote the adoption of good practice on race and health throughout London's NHS, and ensure that the issue of race equality in health and health services remains high on the agenda. The London NHS Race Equality Group's work will aim to ensure that the appropriate services are in place in every health authority, NHS trust and primary care group across London.

The NHS Executive London has also worked with the Association of London Government Race, Health and Social Exclusion Commission during 1999, and contributed to their report 'Sick of being excluded' (about to be published). This report made recommendations on: Improving access Better employment practice Clear leadership Direct involvement of black and minority ethnic people Involvement of community organisations and partnership with communities.

The London NHS Race Equality Group is being established in response to the 1999 survey of NHS initiatives addressing black and minority ethnic health in London. The funding to support these initiatives is already included in local health authority allocations and the group's role will be to ensure that black and ethnic minority populations are getting a fair and appropriate share of these resources, in relation to their needs.