Liz McInnes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz McInnes on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the eight key actions recommended in the Public Health England report entitled Sugar Reduction, the evidence for action, published in October 2015, for what reasons all of those actions were not included in the Government’s childhood obesity plan.

Nicola Blackwood

We launched Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action on 18 August. Our plan focuses on actions that are likely to have the biggest impact on childhood obesity. The policies in the plan are informed by the latest research and evidence, including from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report Carbohydrates and Health, Public Health England’s evidence package Sugar reduction: the evidence for action, other Government Departments, debates in this House and various reports from key stakeholders including the Health Select Committee.

We are confident that the measures we have announced will make a real difference to obesity rates. Though we are clear in our goals and firm in the action we will take, the launch of this plan represents the start of a conversation, rather than the final word.