Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increasing incidence of caesarean sections; and whether they consider that increase to be the result of patient choice or the state of maternity services.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government and NHS England remain committed to ensuring safe, personalised, and evidence-based maternity care, grounded in informed choice.
We recognise that caesarean birth is major abdominal surgery, and that recovery can place additional physical and emotional demands on women and their families in the early weeks and months after birth. Whilst there is no specific routine, long-term follow up post caesarean section, all women who have given birth should be offered a six to eight week postnatal consultation with a general practitioner covering both physical and mental health.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on caesarean birth, reference code NG192, makes clear that women require structured postnatal support following surgery, including effective pain management, early mobilisation, monitoring of wound healing and complications, and support with infant feeding and care.
The National Health Service does not attribute the increase in the number of caesarean births to a single cause, as it is influenced by many factors, including women choosing to have a caesarean birth, higher rates of pre-existing health conditions, and more pregnancies involving complications.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the increasing incidence of caesarean sections on childbearing families in the early weeks and months after birth.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government and NHS England remain committed to ensuring safe, personalised, and evidence-based maternity care, grounded in informed choice.
We recognise that caesarean birth is major abdominal surgery, and that recovery can place additional physical and emotional demands on women and their families in the early weeks and months after birth. Whilst there is no specific routine, long-term follow up post caesarean section, all women who have given birth should be offered a six to eight week postnatal consultation with a general practitioner covering both physical and mental health.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on caesarean birth, reference code NG192, makes clear that women require structured postnatal support following surgery, including effective pain management, early mobilisation, monitoring of wound healing and complications, and support with infant feeding and care.
The National Health Service does not attribute the increase in the number of caesarean births to a single cause, as it is influenced by many factors, including women choosing to have a caesarean birth, higher rates of pre-existing health conditions, and more pregnancies involving complications.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of current postnatal care practices in light of the increasing incidence of caesarean sections; and what plans they have, if any, to reform these practices.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government and NHS England remain committed to ensuring safe, personalised, and evidence-based maternity care, grounded in informed choice.
We recognise that caesarean birth is major abdominal surgery, and that recovery can place additional physical and emotional demands on women and their families in the early weeks and months after birth. Whilst there is no specific routine, long-term follow up post caesarean section, all women who have given birth should be offered a six to eight week postnatal consultation with a general practitioner covering both physical and mental health.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on caesarean birth, reference code NG192, makes clear that women require structured postnatal support following surgery, including effective pain management, early mobilisation, monitoring of wound healing and complications, and support with infant feeding and care.
The National Health Service does not attribute the increase in the number of caesarean births to a single cause, as it is influenced by many factors, including women choosing to have a caesarean birth, higher rates of pre-existing health conditions, and more pregnancies involving complications.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support childbearing families during the postnatal recovery period following births involving major surgery.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government and NHS England remain committed to ensuring safe, personalised, and evidence-based maternity care, grounded in informed choice.
We recognise that caesarean birth is major abdominal surgery, and that recovery can place additional physical and emotional demands on women and their families in the early weeks and months after birth. Whilst there is no specific routine, long-term follow up post caesarean section, all women who have given birth should be offered a six to eight week postnatal consultation with a general practitioner covering both physical and mental health.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on caesarean birth, reference code NG192, makes clear that women require structured postnatal support following surgery, including effective pain management, early mobilisation, monitoring of wound healing and complications, and support with infant feeding and care.
The National Health Service does not attribute the increase in the number of caesarean births to a single cause, as it is influenced by many factors, including women choosing to have a caesarean birth, higher rates of pre-existing health conditions, and more pregnancies involving complications.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support women recovering from surgery during childbirth in light of the increasing incidence of caesarean sections.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government and NHS England remain committed to ensuring safe, personalised, and evidence-based maternity care, grounded in informed choice.
We recognise that caesarean birth is major abdominal surgery, and that recovery can place additional physical and emotional demands on women and their families in the early weeks and months after birth. Whilst there is no specific routine, long-term follow up post caesarean section, all women who have given birth should be offered a six to eight week postnatal consultation with a general practitioner covering both physical and mental health.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on caesarean birth, reference code NG192, makes clear that women require structured postnatal support following surgery, including effective pain management, early mobilisation, monitoring of wound healing and complications, and support with infant feeding and care.
The National Health Service does not attribute the increase in the number of caesarean births to a single cause, as it is influenced by many factors, including women choosing to have a caesarean birth, higher rates of pre-existing health conditions, and more pregnancies involving complications.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of voluntary sugar reduction programmes.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The effectiveness of the United Kingdom’s voluntary sugar reduction programme has been assessed. Four reports have been published to date, which are available on the GOV.UK website, reviewing the progress made by businesses in delivering the 20% reduction target set.
The most recent report, detailing progress between 2015 and 2020, showed that reductions had been delivered in all food categories included in the programme. The greatest reductions in sales weighted average sugar levels per 100 grams were made in breakfast cereals, with a 14.9% reduction in sugar, and yogurts and fromage frais, with a 13.5% reduction. Overall, a reduction of only 3.5% in sales weighted average sugar levels per 100 grams has been delivered by the programme. This is lower than the reductions made in individual categories because of substantial increases in sales in products with high sugar levels such as chocolate confectionary. Reductions were also seen in the calorie levels per single serving of some products. Mixed progress was seen across different companies and brands, and the out of home sector generally delivered less than retailers and manufacturers.
Juices and milk-based drinks are included in the voluntary programme, as they are excluded from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, and were required to deliver 5% and 20% reductions, respectively, in sugar levels per 100 millilitres. The most recent progress data shows that between 2017 and 2020, retailers and manufacturers had not met the 5% target reductions in juices, while out of home blended juices had delivered reductions of approximately 9%. The 20% reduction target has been achieved in three out of six categories for retailer and manufacturer milk-based drinks, with some reduction in calories. In the out of home sector, there has been a 10% sugar reduction in hot and cold drinks, but this category has also seen a 14% increase in calories. Out of home milkshakes have also seen an approximate 12% increase in both sugar and calories.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the lack of verifiable identification such as driving licences for 16-year-olds with regards to the introduction of a ban on the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children under 16.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the King’s Speech, we plan to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to deliver on our commitment to end the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds in the first parliamentary session. We are developing plans which will take into account enforcement and other issues, and will set these out in a consultation in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timeline for banning the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children under 16.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the King’s Speech, we plan to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to deliver on our commitment to end the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds in the first parliamentary session. We are developing plans which will take into account enforcement and other issues, and will set these out in a consultation in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce an obesity strategy.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Supporting people in staying healthier for longer is at the heart of the Government’s health mission. We face a childhood obesity crisis, and the Government will take action to tackle it head on, easing the strain on the National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.
As set out in the King’s Speech, we will bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to ban junk food advertising to children, and stop the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds. The Government recognises that prevention will always be better than a cure. Further action on obesity under the Government’s health mission will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will provide a full list of documents that pregnant women applying for Healthy Start can submit as proof of pregnancy.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The NHS Business Services Authority deliver the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Pregnant applicants need to self-declare their pregnancy in the application form, no further documents are required as proof of pregnancy.