Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Public Health Funding: Bexley

26 October 2021 · 1 other contributor · 3,570 words

Opened by David Evennett Con Bexleyheath and Crayford

Responding minister: Maggie Throup

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

David Evennett raised concerns about public health funding: bexley in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP for Bexley raises concerns about high rates of obesity, infant mortality, and substance misuse in the borough.
  • MP urges the Government to review and adjust the public health funding formula for outer London boroughs.
  • Minister acknowledges the importance of prevention and improving public health, noting stalled improvements in life expectancy.

Key requests to Government

The MP urges the Government to review and address the public health funding formula for outer London boroughs such as Bexley, ensuring that future allocations reflect current needs and support initiatives to improve residents' quality of life.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

David Evennett Con Bexleyheath and Crayford

The MP is concerned about the public health situation in Bexley, highlighting areas such as obesity, with among the highest rates of childhood and adult obesity in London. The infant mortality rate and hospital admissions for young people due to substance misuse are also higher than the London average. The borough's public health grant allocation for 2021-22 is just under £10 million, equating to a per head allocation of £39.84, which is lower compared to other London boroughs and south-east England.

Other contributors (1)
  • Abena Oppong-Asare Lab Erith and Thamesmead

    She thanked the right hon. Member for bringing forward the debate, highlighting that Bexley's public health grant is lower per head than other London boroughs and called on the Government to update the public health allocation formula to ensure high-quality services for her constituents. The MP highlighted inequalities in public health funding for Bexley, noting that the borough's allocation is significantly lower than other London boroughs. She emphasised the need for a fairer funding formula to address existing disparities.

Government Response

Maggie Throup

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Sir David Evennett) for raising the important issue of public health. The Government fully appreciate and share the commitment to prevention and improving the health of the population highlighted today. Improvements in life expectancy appear to have stalled, with 20% of our lives spent in poor health on average, particularly affecting those in deprived communities who are at far higher risk of poor health. For example, since the soft drinks industry levy came into effect, the average sugar content of drinks has decreased by 43.7%. We also legislated to introduce out-of-home calorie labelling in April 2022 and have put in place regulations to restrict the promotion by volume and location of products high in fat, salt and sugar in supermarkets, which will come into force in October 2022. In June 2021, we confirmed that at the end of 2022 we will introduce both a 9 pm watershed for television advertisements of HFSS products and a restriction of paid-for advertising of HFSS products online. For this financial year, Bexley Council received more than £9 million for the public health grant and an additional funding of £358,000 to tackle obesity and drug addiction. Since the start of the pandemic, we have made more than £12 billion available to local councils to address the costs and impacts of covid-19, with £6 billion non-ringfenced in recognition of local authorities being best placed to decide how to manage major pressures. Bexley's per capita funding is different from other London boroughs, but a per capita basis is not meaningful as it takes no account of different levels of need.

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