This briefing paper argues that an additional £3.2 billion a year is required to reverse the impact of government cuts to the public health grant and ensure that it is re-allocated according to need. The grant enables local authorities to deliver vital public health services, such as obesity programmes, drug and alcohol services and sexual health services, but the paper finds that it has seen a £700 million real terms reduction in funding between 2014/15 and 2019/20 – a fall of almost a quarter per person.
