To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps is his Department is taking to increase (a) awareness and (b) the rate of diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among people who are unaware they have the disease. (242703)

The Department is currently developing a national strategy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One of the specific aims of the strategy will be to increase awareness of good lung health among the general population, and COPD for those at risk. The strategy will also aim to increase the accurate diagnosis of COPD, especially for those at the milder stage of the disease. We aim to publish the strategy in 2008.