Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the budget for falls prevention; and whether they have any plans to allocate a portion of that budget to Fracture Liaison Services in order to (1) diagnose osteoporosis early, and (2) prevent hip fractures.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England does not have a specific budget on a national level for falls prevention, which is a focus within certain policy programmes, including Enhanced Health in Care Homes. The Department continues to work with NHS England on the consideration and implementation of musculoskeletal policy, including Fracture Liaison Services.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that alcohol harm rates do not increase following the increase in relative affordability of alcohol compared to fruit juice and other non-alcoholic drinks, given the link between alcohol affordability and harm.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We continue to monitor the impact of the alcohol affordability on alcohol consumption and associated harms. The reforms of alcohol duty will, for the first time, tax all alcohol according to strength, helping to target problem drinking by taxing products associated with alcohol-related harm at a higher rate of duty. These reforms will be implemented from 1 August 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure consumer health awareness on alcohol product labels by way of (1) the Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines, and (2) other health-promoting means, such as (a) ingredient, and (b) calorie, listing.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We have announced the intention to consult on whether to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on prepacked alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants. The consultation will also seek views on whether the provision of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines should be mandatory or continue on a voluntary basis. Respondents may also suggest additional labelling requirements for consideration, such as ingredient listing. The consultation will launch in due course.
The Department continues to promote the low risk drinking guidelines through public health messaging, including the ‘Better Health’ campaign and the Drink Free Days app.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to schedule a date for the launch of the alcohol calorie labelling consultation.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We have announced the intention to consult on whether to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on prepacked alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants. The consultation will also seek views on whether the provision of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines should be mandatory or continue on a voluntary basis. Respondents may also suggest additional labelling requirements for consideration, such as ingredient listing. The consultation will launch in due course.
The Department continues to promote the low risk drinking guidelines through public health messaging, including the ‘Better Health’ campaign and the Drink Free Days app.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their proposed timescale for the consultation on requiring calorie labelling for alcoholic drinks.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We have committed to consult on our intention to introduce calorie labelling on pre-packaged alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants in due course. The consultation will include further details about the proposed timescale for implementation of the policy.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of alcohol marketing on alcohol consumption.
Answered by Lord Kamall
The Government’s evidence review on the public health burden of alcohol in 2016 found evidence that exposure to alcohol marketing can increase the risk that children will start to drink alcohol, or if they already drink, can increase the risk that they will consume greater quantities. There is evidence to show exposure to alcohol advertising can induce physiological cravings to drink, but not necessarily relapse, among ex-dependent drinkers. However, this was from a single study and more research is needed to fully understand the impact. We continue to monitor the emerging evidence in this area.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of improving labelling on alcohol products on reducing obesity.
Answered by Lord Bethell
We are committed to consult shortly on our intention to make companies provide calorie labelling on all pre-packaged alcohol they sell. The consultation will also cover introducing calorie labelling on alcoholic drinks sold in the out of home sector, for example bought on draught or by the glass. An impact assessment will be published alongside the consultation.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their commitment to introducing a new addiction strategy.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Due to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, the addiction strategy has been delayed. Work is expected to resume later in 2021.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that they awarded personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts to companies with records of human rights abuses; what steps they are taking in response to any such assessment; whether their requests for tenders for the supply of PPE stipulate that (1) the International Labour Organization minimum standards, (2) human rights legislation, or (3) their equivalent requirements, must be met; and what checks they undertake to ensure that those requirements are met before awarding any contract.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government’s guidance advises public sector contracting authorities on how to assess suppliers in terms of mitigating the risk of modern slavery. Contracts are normally placed in line with Departmental terms and conditions which include clauses requiring Good Industry Practice to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in supply chains. Suppliers appointed to our NHS Supply Chain frameworks must comply with the Labour Standards Assurance System or they can be removed from consideration for future opportunities.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the findings of the report by the Alcohol Health Alliance UK Small change: alcohol at pocket money prices, published in November, what steps they are taking to limit the sale of cheap, strong alcohol.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government has taken measures to tackle alcohol consumption through pricing interventions including banning sales of alcohol below the level of duty plus VAT which set an important regulatory precedent.
HM Treasury introduced a higher duty band on cider at 6.9% and 7.5% alcohol by volume in February 2019. This targeted measure is to tackle cheap high strength ‘white’ ciders to encourage reformulation to lower alcohol levels and discourage consumption so as to help to reduce the harm associated with these drinks.
The Department wants to increase the general drinking population towards lower strength alternatives to moderate drinking habits. We will work with industry to create more consumer choice and availability in the low and no alcohol sector.