Public Health: Rural Areas
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Public Health Grants in rural areas.
Answered by Ashley Dalton
In line with the Government’s Health Mission, our goal is to create a more equitable healthcare system that leaves no person or community behind.
The government recognises the health inequalities faced by rural communities in England, particularly around access to healthcare services.
In response, we are working closely across the department, with NHS England (NHSE), and regional Directors of Public Health (DPHs) to develop approaches that address these inequalities. The Department supports statutory Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in delivering National Health Services across England. ICSs are partnerships of organisations which come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, this includes considering adequate healthcare provision for populations in rural and remote areas.
The local authority Public Health Grant, including funding for the ten Greater Manchester authorities through a business rate retention arrangement is £3.858 billion in 2025/26. This is an increase of 5.4% in cash terms, 3% in real terms, compared to 2024/25. On average, funding for the most deprived local authorities is more than two times greater than that for the least deprived.
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