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Public health white paper. no action on healthy air, homes or food
6 July 1999
Today's Public Health White Paper "Our Healthier Nation" says less about the environment than the previous Tory Government health strategy "Health of the Nation", Friends of the Earth claimed today.
In 1997 the Tories were about to make the environment a Key Area in its strategy, but lost the May election. In 1999 joined-up thinking between environment and health is all but absent from Labour's new strategy. The White Paper is a step backward on environmental health issues. Labour seems unwilling to tackle the root environmental causes of much ill-health. But ensuring everyone has a warm home, clean air and safe food is Government action which the public urgently wants to see.
Simon Bullock, sustainable development campaigner for FOE, said:
“Tessa Jowell and Frank Dobson aren't acting on the environment - despite the warm words in their press releases. Last month they didn't produce their National Environmental Health Action Plan out in time for the European Ministers conference.Today, by ignoring the environment again, they've missed yet another opportunity to save people's lives.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Up to 24,000 people die prematurely from air pollution each year
2. There are over 30,000 excess winter deaths each year - mainly due to cold homes
3. Levels of carcinogenic dioxins in UK diets exceed World Health Organisation guidelines
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
