Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has made an assessment of the reasons for the sustained decrease in life expectancy in some areas of the UK since 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Public Health England reviewed evidence for recent trends in mortality rates and life expectancy and the report can be viewed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-profile-for-england

It is not yet clear whether there has been a statistically significant interruption in the long-term increase in life expectancy. The Office for National Statistics is currently investigating if the recent figures represent a significant change in the trend, and if so, what demographic groups are affected.