Dietary Advice and Childhood Obesity Strategy Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Dietary Advice and Childhood Obesity Strategy

Alison Thewliss Excerpts
Monday 23rd May 2016

(8 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alistair Burt Portrait Alistair Burt
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Tempting though it is to use my temporary position for a whole range of announcements in relation to this area, I think that would be unwise. I can inform my hon. Friend that I have him on an accumulator with my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North (Mr Nuttall); I am not saying who is the final part of it. No, the Government will stick to their declared policy in relation to sugary drinks. Perhaps my hon. Friend might welcome the fact that all the money from that is going into physical activity through sports in schools, which I know he is really keen on as well. Perhaps that mitigates any concern he might have.

Alison Thewliss Portrait Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP)
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We have heard about the evidence base and the importance of looking at that evidence as we move the strategy forward. May I ask, as I did when this was last debated on 21 January, that the childhood obesity strategy look at the evidence that breastfeeding can contribute to reducing childhood obesity? The evidence is there, and it makes a significant contribution, so will the Minister ensure that it gets prominence in the report when it comes to be published?

Alistair Burt Portrait Alistair Burt
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Yes, I am very conscious of the issues surrounding this. The hon. Lady already has a meeting with the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, when these issues can be taken further.