Local Authority Public Health Grant

Ashley Dalton Excerpts

Monday 10th February 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ashley Dalton)]

On 7 February, the Government published the public health grant allocations to local authorities in England for 2025-26.

Funding for local government’s health responsibilities is an essential element of our commitment to invest in preventing ill health, promoting healthier lives and addressing health disparities.

It is an important component of our plan for change in health, through which we will build an NHS fit for the future, tackle the underlying drivers of ill health and health inequalities, and deliver three fundamental shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital and from sickness to prevention.

In 2025-26 we are increasing funding through the public health grant, and the 100% retained business rate arrangement for local authorities in Greater Manchester, to £3.858 billion. This represents an average 5.4% cash increase, or 3.0% real-terms increase, compared to 2024-25.

The 2025-26 public health grant will continue to be subject to conditions, including a ringfence requiring local authorities to use the grant exclusively for public health activity.

Following the next phase of the spending review in spring, we will aim to issue multi-year allocations from 2026-27 and will also consider whether further funding reforms could support local authorities to improve health outcomes for their local populations.

Full details of the public health grant allocations to local authorities for 2025-26 can be found on www.gov.uk. This information has been communicated to local authorities in a local authority circular.

[HCWS431]