HC Deb 11 March 2002 vol 381 c830W
Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if public health medicine will be under the authority of primary care trusts. [9055]

Mr. Hutton

I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

As a result of the changes outlined in 'Shifting the Balance of Power', primary care trusts (PCTs) will be responsible for the delivery of the majority of the public health services. From 1 April 2002, for the first time, all PCTs will have a Director of Public Health on its board.

PCTs will be performance managed in this role by the new strategic health authorities and supported through the Regional Directors of Public Health and their teams co-located with Government offices of the regions.