Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what data describes the differing causes of obesity (1) with and without malnutrition, and (2) in people of high and low economic placement.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Obesity is a complex problem caused by numerous factors, to which there is no single solution. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that body mass index (BMI) is used to assess obesity in adults and children. Additionally, it recommends the use of other validated obesity measures, such as waist circumference, to be undertaken alongside BMI for adults when assessing overweightness and obesity in individuals to give a more detailed assessment of an individual’s health risk.
Malnutrition as a broad term refers to deficiency, excess or imbalances of a person’s intake of calories, protein and other nutrients which causes measurable adverse effects on body composition, function or clinical outcome. The full definition of malnutrition therefore includes overnutrition which can lead to obesity, however, in the United Kingdom, the term is more commonly used to refer to a clinical condition involving undernutrition.
NICE advises that nutrition support should be considered in people who are malnourished, as defined by any of the following: a BMI of less than 18.5 kilograms/m2; unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last three to six months; or a BMI of less than 20 kilograms/m2 and unintentional weight loss greater than 5% within the last three to six months.
Someone can therefore be a healthy weight or have a BMI in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. The term ‘malnutrition’ is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a poor diet; although this may put someone at increased risk of malnutrition, this would not necessarily meet the criteria for malnutrition.
Data is not collected on causes of obesity. Data from the Health Survey for England, 2021 and National Child Measurement Programme show obesity prevalence was lowest for those living in the least deprived areas and highest in the most deprived areas.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the criteria that distinguish obese citizens in England who are described as malnourished from other obese citizens who are not so described.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Obesity is a complex problem caused by numerous factors, to which there is no single solution. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that body mass index (BMI) is used to assess obesity in adults and children. Additionally, it recommends the use of other validated obesity measures, such as waist circumference, to be undertaken alongside BMI for adults when assessing overweightness and obesity in individuals to give a more detailed assessment of an individual’s health risk.
Malnutrition as a broad term refers to deficiency, excess or imbalances of a person’s intake of calories, protein and other nutrients which causes measurable adverse effects on body composition, function or clinical outcome. The full definition of malnutrition therefore includes overnutrition which can lead to obesity, however, in the United Kingdom, the term is more commonly used to refer to a clinical condition involving undernutrition.
NICE advises that nutrition support should be considered in people who are malnourished, as defined by any of the following: a BMI of less than 18.5 kilograms/m2; unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last three to six months; or a BMI of less than 20 kilograms/m2 and unintentional weight loss greater than 5% within the last three to six months.
Someone can therefore be a healthy weight or have a BMI in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. The term ‘malnutrition’ is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a poor diet; although this may put someone at increased risk of malnutrition, this would not necessarily meet the criteria for malnutrition.
Data is not collected on causes of obesity. Data from the Health Survey for England, 2021 and National Child Measurement Programme show obesity prevalence was lowest for those living in the least deprived areas and highest in the most deprived areas.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they started to draft the public statement about their overall objectives and approach to using UK aid to tackle modern slavery internationally, which they undertook to do in 2021 in their response to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact's review of the use of aid to tackle modern slavery, published on 14 October 2020; why the publication of this statement has been delayed; and when it will be published.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains committed to eradicating all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking in line with achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 by 2030. The UK has supported over 120 modern slavery programmes internationally and here in the UK, since 2017 alone. Ministers are considering next steps on our strategic approach.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the guidance on providing 12 months’ support to modern slavery victims who hold a positive conclusive grounds decision.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
We are currently reviewing the commitment made regarding the provision of 12 months’ support to victims who have received a positive Conclusive Grounds decision, both in light of the urgent need to tackle misuse of the National Referral Mechanism and in order to consider how to best serve the individual needs of modern slavery victims
The Government remains committed to ensuring confirmed victims of modern slavery can access appropriate needs-based support in line with international and domestic legal obligations. Where required, confirmed adult victims of modern slavery who have outstanding recovery needs will continue to receive appropriate support under the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract in England and Wales, alongside support provided by wider statutory services.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the recruitment of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The UK has led the world in protecting victims of modern slavery and we will continue to identify and support those who have suffered intolerable abuse at the hands of criminals and traffickers.
The Home Secretary recognises the importance of the role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and has committed to running a new open competition to recruit for this role, and the process will begin shortly.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have consulted voluntary sector organisations working with victims of modern slavery on the text of the draft guidance for Modern Slavery Reasonable Grounds decision making referred to by the Minister for Immigration in his Written Ministerial Statement of 13 December 2022; and when this revised guidance will come into effect.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Modern Slavery Unit has consulted with key stakeholders and modern slavery first responders throughout the development process for the updated Reasonable Grounds Statutory Guidance update.
The updated Reasonable Grounds Guidance was published on 30 January 2023 as part of the Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for England and Wales (under s49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015) and Non-Statutory Guidance for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This change in guidance builds on and simplifies much of the current guidance to ensure decision making at the Reasonable Grounds stage is robust and consistent while still providing scope to consider instances where a referral may be received with very little additional information.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the 2022 UK annual report on modern slavery will be published.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
This Government remains committed to tackling the heinous crime of modern slavery and ensuring that victims are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives and that those responsible are prosecuted. We will continue to pursue the criminals who seek to profit from these crimes, and ensure genuine victims get the support they deserve.
Given recent changes, Ministers are considering next steps on our strategic approach, including publication of a Modern Slavery Report.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their general advice for (1) how much fat, and (2) what kind of fat, they recommend people eat; and what assessment they have made of the effect of exercise to weight reduction by comparison with reducing the number of calories in the diet.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Fats are an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. The Government’s dietary recommendations state that no more than 33% of total energy should come from fats, including no more than approximately 10% of total energy from saturated fats. The advice for the general population is to reduce intakes of saturated fats and replace with more unsaturated fats from sources such as oily fish, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, nuts and seeds.
Daily physical activity can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight and the prevention and management of certain diseases. This approach should place an emphasis on changing dietary behaviour to reduce calorie intake and support people to self-monitor and manage everyday challenging situations.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what training is given to First Responders in the National Referral Mechanism about the specific (1) indicators, (2) needs, and (3) entitlements, of British nationals who are victims of modern slavery.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
First Responder Organisations (FROs) in the National Referral Mechanism are responsible for providing training for those within their organisation who act as First Responders, taking account of the specific circumstances of their role.
The Home Office published an e-learning package for First Responders. This consists of two modules, one on indicators of modern slavery and how to make a referral into the NRM (published summer 2020) and a second (published in June 2021) which focuses on the vulnerabilities of child victims.
All confirmed victims are entitled to tailored support based on their individual needs, irrespective of nationality.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reasons for the increasing number of British nationals referred to the National Referral Mechanism for victims of modern slavery, and (2) the measures needed to prevent this exploitation.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
In 2021 the most common nationality referred to the National Referral Mechanism was UK nationals, which accounted for 31% (3,952) of all potential victims (compared to 34% in 2020). A high number of those UK nationals are children. For those exploited as children, an increase in the identification of ‘county lines’ cases has partially driven the rise in the number of cases.
Preventing vulnerable people being drawn into slavery is one of the most effective ways of tackling this crime.
The UK Government has invested £10 million, via the Arts and Humanities Research Council, to establish the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre, to transform the evidence base underpinning our policy response to modern slavery, including what works to prevent this exploitation. We have also invested in a modern slavery prevention fund to test new approaches to preventing modern slavery.