Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ranil Jayawardena and Steve Brine

Tuesday 20th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Ranil Jayawardena (North East Hamp- shire) (Con)]

T5. Although my younger daughter, being at the discerning age of one, is a particularly fussy eater, childhood obesity is becoming one of the most quickly rising and important issues of our time. Does my right hon. Friend recognise that it is something that we really need to tackle, and quickly?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Steve Brine)]

We are already delivering an ambitious plan to address childhood obesity, including taxing sugary drinks and helping children to exercise more, but we need to keep a close watch on this. We have taken the first few steps in a long race, and we are always looking to learn from successful initiatives elsewhere. Last week I was in Amsterdam looking at the system-wide approach there, which has led to very impressive reductions in child obesity. We should be listening and we are.