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Jeremy Hunt announces drive to boost UK public sector productivity
UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a new drive to improve poor productivity in the public sector, warning that without reform the state will outgrow the economy and dash hopes of long-term tax cuts.
Hunt said that raising output from public services was key to stabilising the public finances, highlighting official forecasts that public sector debt could more than double to 217 per cent of gross domestic product by 2071 without any action.
John Glen, chief secretary to the Treasury, will lead what Hunt called “the most ambitious public sector productivity review ever undertaken by a government”, reporting back in the autumn.
The national statistician, head of the UK Government Statistical Service, will review measurements of public sector productivity so that, for example, in the NHS the value of preventative care might be measured alongside the number of hospital treatments.
Hunt said Britain faced increased pressure on its public services with an ageing population and the need for stronger defences, but it had to become more efficient.
“We start from a low base,” he said. “Public sector output is 5.7 per cent lower than pre-pandemic, compared to the private sector which is 1.3 per cent higher.”
Source: The Financial Times, 12 June 2023
See also: HM Treasury – Transcript of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s speech at the Centre for Policy Studies
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Hitting elective target ‘not in NHS’s control’, Sunak warned
The NHS Confederation chief, Matthew Taylor, says he will this week demand clarity about Rishi Sunak’s flagship waiting list reduction target, warning it may not be ‘the most sensible target [or] within the service’s control’.
Speaking ahead of the conference, which starts on Wednesday in Manchester, he said he would ask Steve Barclay for “clarity” about “what exactly the government means when it talks about reducing waiting lists”.
On the NHS England’s recent planning round with local systems and trusts for 2023-24 financial year, Mr Taylor said: “I don’t think anyone would pretend that this has been anything other than a pretty bruising planning round".
He also said that he would use his speech to set out five “critical factors for success” for the NHS. They are:
• A new health strategy, not just an NHS policy, joined up with wider government and public health
• Adequate and sustained investment
• Move resources “up stream”
• Build on Patricia Hewitt’s review to empower local leaders, local patients, and “ultimately the patients”
• A new “social contact with the public where we offer more to the public and we need to expect more from the public”.
On resourcing, he warned the NHS would require sustained funding rises above “general growth”, over the next decade and possibly beyond. He said: “We need recognise that with a population ageing, rising inflation, rising patient expectations, we need to just accept that we need a certain amount of money on top of general growth every year and we’re going to need that over the next 10 years at least.”
Source: HSJ, 13 June 2023
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Michael Gove stops Papa John's store opening over obesity fears for local children
Michael Gove’s planning officials have blocked pizza chain Papa John’s from opening a new store over fears it would exacerbate childhood obesity.
In what is thought to be the first intervention of its kind, the Planning Inspectorate has rejected an appeal by Papa Johns to open a new site in Tyneside.
The local council brought in rules to curb the opening of takeaway outlets in areas where more than 15pc of year 6 pupils or 10pc of reception pupils are classified as “very overweight”.
Data showed an obesity rate of 21.2pc and 8.9pc for year 6 and reception pupils respectively, according to a recently published appeal decision by the Planning Inspectorate.
The Planning Inspectorate concluded that Papa John’s “proposal would harm the health of residents in the area”. The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Although an independent body, Mr Gove, the Secretary of State, appoints inspectors.
Source: The Telegraph, 11 June 2023
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Up in smoke: South Africa destroys 20 million smuggled cigarettes
South Africa, which is battling a scourge of cigarettes trafficking, on Monday began incinerating 20 million illicit cigarettes smuggled into the country through its border with neighbouring Zimbabwe.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said that the contraband of 20 million cigarettes, valued at more than $2.3 million, and smuggled into the country between February and May this year, will be destroyed.
"The destruction of the illicit and smuggled cigarettes (at Beitbridge border post) is likely to last a few days," it said in statement.
Source: The Daily Mail, 12 June 2023
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Parliamentary Questions
Asked by Paul Girvan, Democratic Unionist Party, South Antrim
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the proposed illicit vapes enforcement squad will operate UK-wide.
Answered by Neil O’Brien, Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
The illicit vape enforcement team’s programme of work is for England only. However, they will work closely with enforcement agencies across the United Kingdom and share relevant data and intelligence related to illicit and underage vaping.
Source: Hansard 12 June 2023
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Asked by Paul Girvan, Democratic Unionist Party, South Antrim
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to tackle the promotion and marketing of vaping to children.
Answered by Neil O’Brien, Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
The Government recently ran a call for evidence on youth vaping that closed on the 6 June 2023. This included a theme covering the marketing and promotion of vapes. We are now reviewing the evidence and will respond later this year.
Source: Hansard, 12 June 2023
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Asked by Ben Bradley, Conservative, Mansfield
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to improve smokers’ awareness of reduced risk products other than vapes and e-cigarettes.
Answered by Neil O’Brien, Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
The Government is taking a range of actions to improve smokers’ awareness of evidence-based alternatives to smoking. Evidence shows that nicotine replacement therapy along with behavioural support from a stop smoking service is the most effective way for a smoker to quit. The Government will continue to monitor evidence on other reduced risk products and their effectiveness in supporting quit attempts.
Source: Hansard, 12 June 2023
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Asked by Bambos Charalambous, Labour, Enfield, Southgate
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the impact on public health of second-hand vapour from e-cigarettes in public spaces.
Answered by Neil O’Brien, Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, previously Public Health England (PHE), has published detailed evidence updates on vapes (e-cigarettes) since 2014.
The last report, published in 2022, assesses the impact on public health of second-hand vapour from e-cigarettes in public spaces.
This can be seen in Chapter 7 ‘Biomarkers of Secondhand exposure’. The full report is available at the following link:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1107701/Nicotine-vaping-in-England-2022-report.pdf
In summary, there is limited published evidence of harm to bystanders from exposure to e-cigarette vapour and the available evidence indicates that any risk of harm is extremely low, especially when compared with tobacco smoke. PHE also published advice on the use of vapes in public places and workplaces in 2016 which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-e-cigarettes-in-public-places-and-workplaces
Source: Hansard, 12 June 2023
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Asked by Liz Twist, Labour, Blaydon
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to provide stop smoking services in Gateshead.
Answered by Neil O’Brien, Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
We continue to provide funding to local authority stop smoking services via the Public Health Grant. The local authority in Gateshead commission a highly effective Stop Smoking Service which is available to all smokers locally.
Source: Hansard, 12 June 2023
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