Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help tackle health inequalities in the North East.

• As Vice-Chair of the APPG on Smoking and Health, the Honourable Lady will know that Government’s commitment to a smoke-free generation will tackle the single biggest driver of the health gap.
• Local authorities in the North East will receive an extra £3.7m for smoking cessation services next year, and £27m to treat drug addiction which harms deprived communities most.
• Dental health inequalities are also a real concern. We will consult on a water fluoridation scheme for the North East, which will deliver greatest benefit to children and adults in disadvantaged communities.