Health Inequalities 2023-03-07

2023-03-07

Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Rupa Huq Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Context
The MP references recent media reports about WhatsApp messages related to COVID-19 and disproportionate deaths in black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities. She also cites a 20-year life expectancy gap between affluent and poorest wards.
What steps he is taking to help tackle health inequalities. The daily dump of WhatsApp messages in the papers reminds us of covid and the disproportionate deaths suffered by black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. What with that and the figures showing a 20-year gap between life expectancies in our nation's most affluent and poorest wards, why is it that the Government scrapped a proposed White Paper on health inequalities?
We announced in January that we will publish a major conditions strategy, which will apply a geographical lens to each condition to address disparities in health outcomes. We have doubled the duty on cigarettes since 2010 and now have the lowest smoking rate on record. We are investing an extra £900 million through the drugs strategy, increasing funding by 40%, and to fight obesity we have introduced the sugar tax and measures such as the extra £330 million for school sport. In addition, we have the Start for Life programme, with another £300 million to improve young people's start in life. We are absolutely committed to tackling health disparities and driving forward work on all fronts.
Assessment & feedback
Specific reasons why the proposed White Paper was scrapped were not provided
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Rupa Huq Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Context
The MP references recent media reports about WhatsApp messages related to COVID-19 and disproportionate deaths in black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities. She also cites a 20-year life expectancy gap between affluent and poorest wards.
Why is it that the Government scrapped a proposed White Paper on health inequalities?
As I just said, we are driving forward all that work through the major conditions paper. In addition, we have the Start for Life programme, with another £300 million to improve young people's start in life. We are absolutely committed to tackling health disparities and driving forward work on all fronts.
Assessment & feedback
The specific reasons for scrapping the White Paper were not addressed
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Caroline Johnson Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Context
The MP raises concerns about vaping becoming a trend for non-smoking youth, despite being designed as a stop-smoking aid.
What are the Government doing to prevent disposable vapes from becoming a fad among children?
My hon. Friend is quite right. It is something that we are looking at very closely, as she knows from previous conversations. While vaping can be an aid in quitting smoking—it helped about 800,000 people to do so last year—we must stop its use being driven up among children.
Assessment & feedback
Specific measures were not detailed
Response accuracy
Q4 Direct Answer
Andrew Gwynne Ind
Gorton and Denton
Context
The MP mentions a delay in the announcement of public health funding, citing concern from over 30 public health leaders that this is putting services at risk.
When will the public health grant be announced?
The public health grant will be announced within days, not weeks. When it is announced, the Opposition will see that, as well as generously funding public health, we will be funding an extra £900 million on drugs spending to transform treatment and an extra £300 million through the Start for Life programme. We will continue to ramp up support for public health.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy