Public Health England Review: Covid-19 Disparities Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Public Health England Review: Covid-19 Disparities

Scott Benton Excerpts
Thursday 4th June 2020

(3 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kemi Badenoch Portrait Kemi Badenoch
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Yes, is the short answer. We can look at that.

Scott Benton Portrait Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)
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Blackpool contains some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the whole of England, and in some of those communities the life expectancy for the poorest is 20 years below the national average. The PHE report makes it explicitly clear that deprived communities such as those in my constituency have been disproportionately affected by covid-19, a fact that is supported by our high local infection rate. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is imperative that the Government redouble our efforts to reduce health inequalities between the richest and the poorest?

Kemi Badenoch Portrait Kemi Badenoch
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Yes, absolutely. We will look very closely at the health inequalities aspects of the report. That is part of the work that I am going to be carrying forward.