Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Gibson Excerpts

Tuesday 6th December 2022 Commons Chamber

[Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con)]

9. What plans he has to reduce health inequalities.

[Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con)]

18. What plans he has to reduce health inequalities.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Neil O’Brien)]

We are taking action on public health across the board. The £3 billion that we are investing in the drugs strategy will create an extra 50,000 places in drug treatment. We have doubled the duty on cigarettes since 2010 and brought in a minimum excise tax. We now have the lowest smoking rate on record and will go further. The £300 million that we are investing in Start for Life means new or expanded family hubs in 75 local authorities. We are taking action right across Government, from the £55 billion that we are investing in energy support to the measures that we are taking through at the moment to crack down on non-decent housing.

[Peter Gibson]

Levelling up is not just about jobs and infrastructure; it is about healthcare too, and dentistry is a key part of that. However, Darlington faces the potential closure of its surgery, which serves 7,000 patients, because the current system of NHS dentistry makes the business case for that surgery unviable. What will my hon. Friend do to ensure that we level up dental services so that my constituents can get the services that they need?

[Neil O’Brien]

My hon. Friend and I have discussed this, and we are due to meet again shortly. I repeat my offer to speak both to that practice and to local partners so that we can tackle this crucial problem.