Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to use any of the revenue from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to fund preventative oral health programmes.

The government has already confirmed that, in England, we will invest the revenue during this parliament on giving school-aged children a better and healthier future, including programmes to reduce obesity and encourage physical activity and balanced diets.

Improving children’s oral health is a priority for this government. Public Health England is leading a wide ranging multi-agency programme focused on improving children’s oral health, and NHS England’s Starting Well programme will run in thirteen high needs areas to improve access to dental services for children known to be at greater risk of dental disease and who are not currently being seen by a dentist.

The Department of Health and NHS England are also testing a new NHS dental contract which supports the longer term aim for all care to have a preventative focus.