Health: Economic Inactivity

Baroness Boycott Excerpts

Thursday 18th May 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My noble friend raises an important point, and he is exactly right: mental health and musculoskeletal conditions are the main issue for long-term sickness. The Covid pandemic meant that a lot of us worked from home in a sedentary position—we were not built for that; we were built for activity. Work always pays, but it also helps with mental health in the long term, so the key is to get as many long-term sick people back into work.

[Baroness Boycott (CB)]

My Lords, it is now well known that diet is the primary cause of not only early death but early ill health across the world. Some 60% of this country eats ultra-processed food as its main source of diet. It is not a coincidence that, in the last 30 years, we have seen ill health and a rise in mental health problems. This is new research, but it is powerfully backed by many scientists. Will the Minister consider meeting me and the relevant people to try to understand that, if we fed people well from the moment of pregnancy right through, a lot of this might be averted?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

The noble Baroness raises an important point, and I am aware of those surveys. I am always happy to meet her.