Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on which other European countries have introduced a soft drinks industry levy in the last five years; and what research the Government has commissioned or undertaken on the effects of such levies on levels of obesity.

Other European countries have introduced a soft drinks tax in recent years. For example, Hungary in 2011 and France in 2012.

These taxes however are not identical in design to the new soft drinks industry levy the Chancellor announced at Budget 2016. The levy is a lever to encourage producer-led reformulation.

The Chief Medical Officer has said that reformulation is a key win for tackling obesity and soft drinks are the single largest source of sugar intake for children and teenagers.

This levy will be an important part of the government’s comprehensive childhood obesity strategy.