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Written question asked by Blake Stephenson (Conservative) on Friday, 2 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. It was answered by Ashley Dalton (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 January 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Health Services: Equality

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 8 October 2025 to written question 73484, if he will provide a list of communities within that definition.

Answer

As outlined in my answer of 8 October 2025 to Question 73484, the 10-Year Health Plan, which has set out a long-term vision to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future, refers both to “working class jobs” and “working class communities”. It uses those terms in the standard way they are used in English to indicate people who are employed for wages and generally experience greater job insecurity, lower benefits, and less financial security than those in higher social classes.

Communities that we focus on will include those areas in which life expectancy is lower and illness more prevalent, where jobs are less secure and provide fewer benefits and financial security for those who work in them compared to others in society, and these may vary depending on local context. These communities will be prioritised for investment in staff, services, and infrastructure, in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
101973
Session
2024-26
Related items
Health Services: Equality
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Equality Health services
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk