Member

A driving purpose behind the health improvement and health inequalities duty is to promote a focus by combined authorities and combined county authorities on reducing health inequalities and the adoption of the “health in all policies” approach that I have already mentioned. Combined authorities and combined county authorities are experts in their local areas; they are best placed to decide how to consider general health determinants for their communities. The Bill, as currently drafted, allows them to do this without being restrictive. There is clearly a balance to strike, and the Bill illustrates a number of important health determinants to give clarity to our intent and indicate areas where authorities are likely to be able to act.