The Health Education Authority is to be abolished by the Government and replaced by the Health Development Agency.
Two Statutory Instruments which came into force on January 14 establish the new agency and set out rules for the appointment of up to 20 members, including a chairman.
The function of the agency is to develop and ensure "high quality public health provision and health promotion." It may also subsequently be given other functions.
According to the Daily Telegraph for January 12, the Government has decided to "abandon nannying campaigns, warning of the dangers of sitting in the sun and drinking too much, in favour of focusing on specific targets for reducing cancer, strokes, heart disease and suicide."
The Health Development Agency (Establishment and Constitution) Order 1999, SI 1999 No 3431, The Stationery Office, ISBN 0-11-085733-X. The Health Development Agency Regulations 1999, SI 1999, 3432, The Stationery Office, ISBN 0-11-085734-8.