Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for increasing investment in place-based public health in local authorities in order to tackle (a) health inequalities, (b) mental health issues and (c) deprivation in the North of England.

The public health grant to local authorities in England was £3.279 billion in 2020/21. Local authority funding through the public health grant for 2021/22 will be maintained, meaning local authorities can continue to invest in prevention and essential frontline health services including support for public mental health. It is for local authorities to make funding decisions for public health services based on local population priorities, in line with the conditions attached to the grant including having regard to reducing health inequalities.