David Simmonds: The case for more investment in early intervention

The long-term dividends for individuals, local services, employers, and the Exchequer can far outweigh initial costs.

Andy Reed: The true test of the new Minister for Sport is how she influences other departments

Davies faces an overflowing in-tray, but DCMS does not have the power to address many of the biggest challenges facing the sector.

“We need a radical shift in the NHS, from a hospital service for the ill, to a service to keep us healthy.” – Hancock’s speech, full text

“Over just the last year, emergency admissions at A&E have increased by 6.6 per cent. This rate of growth of demand is simply unsustainable.”

Sponsored Post: Mark Pawsey: Brexit could be a victory for vaping and public health

E-cigarettes are a great innovation for public health, but they are threatened by bad EU regulation.

James Frayne: Is a Nappy Tax coming soon? How Hammond may raise more revenue when his Budget comes.

Public health and environmental health look the likeliest sources. Shifting everyone to the equivalent of PAYE and taxing the biggest businesses must also be targets.

Ben Bradley: To get the greatest benefit from extra NHS funding, resist the temptation to spend it all on hospitals

From community services and mental health treatment, to alleviating PFI debt, the extra cash must be used to prepare the health service for the future.

Rebecca Pow: Reconnecting young people with the natural world would bring benefits to mental and physical health

From creating more green and blue spaces, to GPs prescribing walks and gardening, nature can be a soothing, healing influence.

Steve Brine MP: The Government must act to protect children from energy drinks

Excessive consumption is linked to a broad range of problems, but our current consultation asks important questions to help us reach the right response.

James Brokenshire: A sustainable strategy to end homelessness for good

Sleeping rough is more than the lack of a bed; it’s a personal and social tragedy. How we respond to it is a litmus test for our society.

Tim Loughton: Mindfulness has a crucial role to play in tackling mental illness

Anything that is easy to administer and available to everyone at low cost has to be a useful aid in dealing with this epidemic.

East Sussex and Northamptonshire – very different cases

It is true that financial pressures will increase. But the scope for reform and innovation remains huge. Services do not need to be cut.

A vaping tax would kill people

It wouldn’t be a “sin tax”, it would be a tax penalising people for stopping smoking. The Treasury’s greed would have outweighed its logic.

Tony Devenish: The Local Government Association is wrong to demand tax increases

Demands for billions of pounds for extra adult social care spending lack credibility given the continued profligate spending in our town halls.

Sejal Bhansali: The Sugar Tax is a good start in improving dental health – but we should use education, too

Better information in schools, and perhaps even putting photos of rotten teeth on sugary drinks containers, might help.

Wollaston’s pudding taxes and bans on cartoon characters are the opposite of Davidson’s call for more joyful politics

It isn’t only flinty securocrats who find themselves in conflict with her positive message – moaning nannies should take heed, too.