Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent progress they have made towards reducing health inequalities; and what further steps they intend to take in the future.

The Government is committed to improving healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035 and reducing the gap between areas where it is highest and lowest by 2030, as stated in the Levelling Up White Paper.

We know that lifestyle factors such as maintaining a healthy weight, drinking in moderation, and quitting smoking are some of the best ways to tackle health disparities. We have restricted the placement of less healthy food in shops, provided the largest ever single increase in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery funding in England, and will help a million smokers across England quit by giving them a free vaping starter kit.

The Government also announced on 24 January 2023 that it will publish a Major Conditions Strategy. An interim report will be published in the summer. Interventions set out in the strategy will aim to alleviate pressure on the health system, as well as support the Government’s objective to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity.