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Written question asked by Lord Bird (Crossbench) on Monday, 26 January 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 February 2026. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Friday, 30 January 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Diseases: Disadvantaged

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of public health funding in reducing rates of preventable illnesses in disadvantaged communities.

Answer

The Public Health Grant supports local authorities to deliver vital public health services that focus on reducing preventable illnesses through services such as smoking cessation, drug and alcohol addiction treatment and recovery, health visiting, and sexual health clinics. Public Health Grant allocations are weighted heavily towards deprivation, with per capita funding for the most deprived local authority more than two times greater than that for the least deprived.

More than £13.4 billion will be consolidated into the Public Health Grant to local authorities, and a retained business rates arrangement with Greater Manchester local authorities, over the next three years beginning in 2026/27. This is a 5.6% total cash increase over the period, on top of 5.5% cash growth in 2025/26.

The National Health Service also funds important public health services, including national screening and immunisation programmes. In doing so, NHS England has regard to the need to reduce inequalities both in access to services and in health outcomes.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL13896
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Disadvantaged Finance Diseases Public health
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk