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Councils, which are responsible for public health, run a range of innovative programmes to help people quit smoking and have taken great strides in helping people to stub out tobacco for good. Despite this, smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death, responsible for nearly 79,000 deaths a year.

Every suicide that takes place is a tragedy and it’s everybody’s business to work together to tackle this tragic loss of life and support all of those affected by it.

“This announcement will help address the growing number of people living longer with increasingly complex needs who want to live independent lives in their own homes and communities, rather than being stuck in a hospital bed or unsuitable accommodation."

"Had the appeal been upheld, care providers and councils providing social care would have faced massive bills, which would have increased the huge financial pressures they are already facing."

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to survey by the Care and Support Alliance.

"We have repeatedly argued that reductions to councils’ public health budgets is short-sighted and needs to be reversed otherwise they will undermine the objectives we all share to improve the public’s health."

“Social care remains under enormous strain to recruit and retain high quality staff when faced with pay issues, unmet need within the sector and pressures on provider fee levels. Considering the limits that adult social care has been working within over the pandemic, it’s positive to see that the report finds that “service quality held up quite well”.

"Suicide prevention is a high priority for councils, which already provide a range of vital services that support the health and mental wellbeing of our communities."

“Driving strong local action and tougher restrictions will add further pressure to already over-stretched council budgets. It remains imperative that the Government meets, in full, all the extra costs councils incur as a result of leading communities through the pandemic and income losses they suffer as a result."

Councils are fully supportive of the Government’s smokefree generation ambitions