Minister for Primary Care and Public Health (Neil O'Brien): Today
I am publishing the Public Health Grant allocations to local
authorities in England for 2023-24, along with indicative
allocations for 2024-25.
Funding for local government’s health responsibilities is an
essential element of our commitment to invest in preventing ill
health, promoting healthier lives and addressing health
disparities and an important complement to our plans to invest
strongly in both health and social care.
The 2021 Spending Review confirmed that the level of funding for
the Public Health Grant to local authorities would increase over
the Spending Review period, and all local authorities received a
2.8% increase in 2022-23 taking the Public Health Grant to £3.417
billion.
In 2023-24, through the Public Health Grant and the pilot of 100%
retained business rate funding for local authorities in Greater
Manchester, we are increasing funding to £3.529 billion,
providing each local authority with a 3.3% cash terms increase.
To help local authorities plan ahead, we are also publishing
today indicative allocations for 2024-25, on the basis of a
further 1.3% cash uplift which would take 2024-25 funding to
£3.575 billion. This will provide every local authority with
real-terms funding protection in each of the next two years.
These allocations include baselining of local government funding
of £1.4 million a year for their enforcement duties under the
Botulinum Toxin and Fillers (Children) Act 2021.
The allocations I am announcing today are part of a wider package
of investment in public health services. This includes additional
targeted investment up to 2025 of £516 million going to local
authorities to improve drug and alcohol addiction treatment and
£170 million to improve the Start for Life services available to
families with majority allocated to 75 local authority areas, as
part of the joint DfE and DHSC £300 million Family Hubs and Start
for Life programme.
This overall funding package will deliver a real-terms increase
of more than 5% in DHSC investment in local authority public
health functions over the next two years, enabling local
authorities to invest in prevention of ill health and in
essential frontline services.
The 2023-24 the Public Health Grant will continue to be subject
to conditions, including a ring-fence requiring local authorities
to use the grant exclusively for public health activity.
Full details of the Public Health Grant allocations to local
authorities for 2023-24 and indicative allocations for 2024-25
can be found on gov.uk. This information has
been communicated to local authorities in a Local Authority
Circular.
Statement from
Department of Health and Social Care
(opens in a new tab)
