Health: Treatment Rationing

Lord Robathan Excerpts
Tuesday 26th April 2016

(8 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Prior of Brampton Portrait Lord Prior of Brampton
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, I cannot answer the noble Lord’s question now, but I agree to his request to write to him and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Lord Robathan Portrait Lord Robathan (Con)
- Hansard - -

Does the Minister not agree that everybody in this country must know that smoking and being overweight are bad for them? Does he not think that individuals should be encouraged to take greater personal responsibility for their health, rather than less?

Lord Prior of Brampton Portrait Lord Prior of Brampton
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

There is clearly a balance between the obligations of individuals to take responsibility for themselves and the obligation of society to help people to do so. Getting that balance right has characterised the success we have had in reducing smoking in this country and which I hope we will have in reducing obesity as well.