Health: Ultra-processed Food

Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Sikka

Tuesday 3rd June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sikka]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address health harms associated with ultra-processed food.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, a nutritious diet is key to living a healthy life. Currently, there is insufficient evidence on the extent to which the processing of food itself negatively impacts health beyond poor nutritional content. We have commissioned research to further understand the health impacts of ultra-processed foods. We are focused on taking firm action to reduce the intake of foods and drinks that are high in saturated fat, salt or sugar, which also captures the majority of ultra-processed foods.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister. Research shows that ultra-processed food causes disease, disability and premature death. It costs the UK economy £268 billion a year, in the form of additional costs for the NHS and social care, welfare payments, productivity loss and lifelong human suffering. Instead of a free ride, manufacturers of ultra-processed food must bear the true cost of their trade. This could be in the form of a 5% levy on their turnover. Does the Minister agree and, if so, when will the Government introduce it?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am interested to hear my noble friend’s suggestion. This Government do not have that as part of their plan. However, on my noble friend’s point about the need for research, I heard what he said about evidence, but that is not the evidence that I have available. I assure your Lordships’ House that the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition repeatedly reviews evidence and assesses the impact of processed foods on health in position statements, and it has made two recent publications on that. We continue to invest in research on ultra-processed foods.

NHS and Care Volunteer Responders Service

Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Sikka

Tuesday 20th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I share the noble Lord’s view. Various directions are given to volunteers about how to behave when they receive information that may be to do with safeguarding, and where it should go. It is important that volunteers and staff do not keep it to themselves and that action is taken, so I can give the assurance that he seeks.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, the Air Ambulance Service is a vital part of emergency care. It is a matter of concern and shame that one of the richest countries has to rely primarily on charitable donations, which cannot provide a consistent and stable service. I urge the Minister to ensure that the Air Ambulance Service is properly funded from the public purse.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

There is a role for charitable organisations. One example is hospices. As I have been told many times in this Chamber, as well as outside it, many hospices and other charities, including air ambulances, welcome and relish the freedom they have as charities and do not want government funding or intervention. Of course, we very much respect and appreciate the role that the Air Ambulance Service plays. My own brother was saved some 10 years ago, so I feel very connected to this point. He is grateful, as am I.

Care Homes: Safety Ratings

Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Sikka

Wednesday 5th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The Secretary of State did indeed say that, and he was right to do so, in the spirit of transparency. The fortnightly meetings which I mentioned will be a constant assessment until we have met the necessary timeframes that are only reasonable to assist people in making decisions. All of that—how might I put it?—deep focus on the CQC will continue. I do not think this will be quick, but it will be thorough.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, 30% to 40% of public money given to corporate-owned care homes vanishes in profits, leaving little for front-line services. Almost all care homes forcibly closed between 2011 and 2023 were operated by for-profit companies. The Government’s promised crackdown on care home profiteering probably will not even be as effective as that on water companies. What will it take for the Government to recognise that profit and care cannot easily be combined?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The independent sector, which is not just the private sector but the charitable sector, is an important part of the provider framework. We will continue to work with it to provide the right quality of services for those who need them.

Smoking: Public Places

Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Sikka

Tuesday 3rd September 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am glad that the noble Lord welcomes the Bill, and I hope that he will bring his expertise and support when it is before the House. This will be a matter of great debate but also one of consultation.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, if I set up a market stall with products guaranteed to disable, maim or kill the consumer, I would not be allowed to sell, irrespective of any economic gains. I would probably be arrested and forced to bear the cost of restitution. Can the Minister explain why tobacco companies are allowed to do the same and do not bear the full cost of restitution?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am sure my noble friend will be pleased to know that the tobacco and vapes Bill will not just introduce a progressive smoking ban, which I know the previous Government wished to do, but will stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products such as nicotine pouches being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children. Together—this is important—the measures will stop the next generation becoming hooked on nicotine, and this will be the furthest step that we have taken so far. However, the focus of the Bill is on what is legal to do, and that is one of the many reasons that I refute the accusation of this being the action of some kind of nanny state. It is not. It is about giving people the environment and the support that they need to protect their own health and create a healthy environment.

Coronavirus: UK Deaths

Debate between Baroness Merron and Lord Sikka

Monday 29th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I certainly do appreciate the point made by the noble Lord and certainly, as of April this year, there were some 90 adult post-Covid services introduced across England, along with an additional 10 for children and young people in the manner of hubs. I hope that will be a great support. Long Covid remains something of a new challenge, but these services are offering integrated assessment, medical treatment, rehabilitation and direct access to diagnostics and I can assure the noble Lord that we will not take our eye off the ball.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, a report by the Institution of Health Equity earlier this year stated that, between 2011 and 2019, over 1 million people died prematurely from a combination of Covid, austerity and poverty, which is a shameful record for the last Government. Can the Minister assure the House that this Government will not neglect the poor and will protect and enhance the real value of wages and benefits?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I can certainly assure my noble friend that we will be working across government to join up our approach because, as I have mentioned in a previous question, the complexity of all this is not to be ignored. Indeed, it is the case that people’s incomes, where they live, the lives that they are managing and how their health is—whether they are, for example, obese or smokers—all impact on health and affect excess deaths. It is our duty to find ways of reducing avoidable deaths and we will do so.