Throwing young people on the scrap heap is a public health emergency.

I don't blame people for smoking when I see a social gradient in smoking. I say we need to understand why is it the lower you are in the hierarchy the more likely you are to smoke. So we need to address the causes of the causes.

We have to put reduction of health inequalities at the centre of our public health strategy and that will require action on the social determinants of health.

It's not just that people with no education have worse health. People with a bit of education at somewhat better, with a lot of education it's even better. And with even more education it's better still.

The academic life is wonderful. That's why people love to do research.

If the economists are arguing as to whether we need to cut or stimulate, because they're completely opposite policies, and they can't work it out then I would say let us work it out for you. Let's look at the lives people are able to lead, the effect of policies on the lives people are able to lead, and hence the likely effect on health and health inequalities.

Health and health inequalities tell us a great deal about the good or bad effects of social policies.