Oral Answers to Questions

Tim Loughton Excerpts

Tuesday 6th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

We are becoming increasingly conscious of drinks with additional unnatural stimulants and their impact on people’s health generally, but obviously that becomes more acute with children’s health, so we will look more closely at it. I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has highlighted the initiatives that have been taken by individual retailers, because it is up to them to implement good practice.

[Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that the best way to achieve strong health and good mental health for children is at the very earliest stages and through forming a strong attachment between that child and their parent in the first 1,001 days from conception? If so, why is there not more in the mental health Green Paper about perinatal mental health?

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

The Green Paper very much focuses on what we are doing in schools, but my hon. Friend is absolutely right. He highlights the earliest of early intervention, and one reason why we are investing so much more in perinatal mental health is to ensure that the bonds between mother and baby are as strong as they can possibly be.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

I will call the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) if his question is shorter than his tie.

[Tim Loughton]

Lipoedema affects 10% of women in this country, many without a diagnosis, so why are an increasing number of my constituents saying they cannot get any therapeutic interventions funded by the CCG? Will the Minister meet a delegation of those people and other hon. Members similarly affected?

[Steve Brine]

Yes, of course I will meet my short-tied hon. Friend with the delegation he requests.