Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the funding they provide to local authorities is sufficient to deliver statutory public health responsibilities.

At the Spending Review 2021, we considered the need for local authority public health funding and confirmed that the public health grant to local authorities in England would increase over the settlement period.  In 2022/23, the Grant increased by 2.81% to £3.417 billion.  This is in addition to targeted investment through local Government in Start for Life support and drug and alcohol treatment services.

We will announce 2023/24 Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities shortly, and in doing so will consider the impact of changes to pay and inflation trends and forecasts since the Spending Review.