Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Paul Blomfield and Seema Kennedy

Tuesday 18th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Ellie Reeves (Lewisham West and Penge) (Lab)]

14. What recent assessment he has made of progress in implementing Childhood obesity: a plan for action, chapter 2, published in June 2018.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Seema Kennedy)]

The Government are taking a world-leading approach to obesity. We have held consultations on ending the sale of energy drinks to children, calorie labelling in restaurants, restricting promotions of sugary and fatty foods by price indication, and further advertising restrictions, including a 9 pm watershed. We are considering all the feedback, and will respond later this year.

[Paul Blomfield]

Alongside prevention, we have to do more to help the growing number of children who are already overweight or obese. It is more than a year since the Health and Social Care Committee highlighted the lack of tier 3 and 4 services. Voluntary groups such as Shine Health Academy in my constituency fill the gap. They take children on referral from GPs, but they do not receive any public funding. There can be no other serious health condition affecting children where the NHS says, “Sorry, we can’t help.” Will the Minister take action and agree to meet me to discuss it?

[Seema Kennedy]

I completely agree with the hon. Gentleman that childhood obesity is a massive challenge to our nation. It is a problem internationally, and we are taking serious steps to tackle it. I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to hear more about Shine.