The UK government is on track to meet its targets to reduce health inequalities by 10% in 2010, according to the health secretary, Alan Johnson.

Mr Johnson, giving evidence to the parliamentary health select committee this week as part of its inquiry into health inequities, said that he was confident that the government would meet its targets set out in the Tackling Inequalities: A Programme for Action strategy, published in 2003.

The strategy set specific targets, such as a 10% reduction in inequities by 2010, measured by infant mortality and life expectancy at birth.

“I think we are going to make the target,” Mr Johnson told the committee’s …