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Written Question
Infant Foods: Marketing
Tuesday 26th January 2021

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to fully implement the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

Answered by Jo Churchill

There is strict legislation currently in place through the overarching Food for Specific Groups legislation (Retained Regulation No 609/2013) and specifically Retained Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127. These regulate, labelling and marketing of infant formulae and follow-on formulae so as not to discourage breastfeeding. The legislation gives effect to the principles and aims of the 1981 World Health Organization Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes by restricting the labelling, presentation and advertising of infant formula so as not to discourage breastfeeding.

These are enforced by the Food for Specific Groups (Food for Special Medical Purposes for Infants, Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula) (Information and Compositional Requirements) (Amendment etc.) (England) Regulations 2020. Similar legislation applies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 21 Jan 2021
Vaccine Roll-out

"The UK has acquired the rights to vaccinate more than the entire population multiple times over, as have many other developed nations. Will the Secretary of State tell us what steps the UK Government are taking to make sure that surplus doses of the vaccine are shared with less developed …..."
Alison Thewliss - View Speech

View all Alison Thewliss (SNP - Glasgow Central) contributions to the debate on: Vaccine Roll-out
Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 18th January 2021

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond the e-mail of 30 September 2020 from the hon. Member for Glasgow Central on behalf of Allan Gordon, reference number ZA21117.

Answered by Edward Argar

We replied to the hon. Member’s email on 14 December 2020.

Written Question
Coronavirus: Vaccination
Tuesday 22nd December 2020

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government's official advice is on covid-19 vaccination for people who are (a) pregnant and (b) lactating.

Answered by Nadhim Zahawi

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) consists of independent experts who advise the Government on which vaccine the United Kingdom should use and provide advice on prioritisation at a population level.

In line with the recommendations of the JCVI, the vaccine will initially be rolled out to these priority groups, including care home residents and staff, people over 80 years old, and health and care workers. The vaccine will then be prioritised amongst the rest of the population in order of age and risk, including those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, and all individuals aged 16-64 years old with underlying health conditions

The JCVI favours a precautionary approach and therefore does not currently advise COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Those eligible for vaccination who are also breastfeeding should discuss with their clinician.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Dec 2020
Healthcare Support Services: Conception to Age Two

"It is a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Sir Christopher. I thank the right hon. Member for South Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom) for securing this debate and for the work that she has done on this agenda. I chair the all-party parliamentary group on infant feeding and inequalities. We …..."
Alison Thewliss - View Speech

View all Alison Thewliss (SNP - Glasgow Central) contributions to the debate on: Healthcare Support Services: Conception to Age Two
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Dec 2020
Healthcare Support Services: Conception to Age Two

"My hon. Friend makes a good point about the Best Start Foods grant. The level of the equivalent payment in England is woeful and, although it will go up in April, there are families just now who cannot afford essentials like infant formula. Does he agree that the Government should …..."
Alison Thewliss - View Speech

View all Alison Thewliss (SNP - Glasgow Central) contributions to the debate on: Healthcare Support Services: Conception to Age Two
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 01 Dec 2020
HIV Commission

"I thank the hon. Gentleman very much for giving way. Does he commend the efforts of community groups who are going out and selling that message to their own communities? Those who work for Waverley Care in Glasgow and the Hwupenyu Health and Wellbeing Project are making sure that the …..."
Alison Thewliss - View Speech

View all Alison Thewliss (SNP - Glasgow Central) contributions to the debate on: HIV Commission
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 01 Dec 2020
HIV Commission

"The Secretary of State is talking about the excellent progress that has been made, and I acknowledge that that is true, but one area where there is still significant difficulty is among intravenous drug users, particularly in the city of Glasgow. We want the public health intervention of a supervised …..."
Alison Thewliss - View Speech

View all Alison Thewliss (SNP - Glasgow Central) contributions to the debate on: HIV Commission
Written Question
Healthy Start Scheme
Thursday 26th November 2020

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will increase the value of healthy start vouchers.

Answered by Jo Churchill

The Government announced on 8 November 2020 that the Healthy Start voucher value will increase from £3.10 to £4.25 in England from April 2021. This will provide additional support to pregnant women and families on lower incomes to make healthy food choices.

The Scottish Government has its own devolved Best Start Food Scheme which was launched on 12 August 2019 to replace Healthy Start for people living in Scotland. The devolution and transition to the Scottish Best Start Foods Scheme was completed on the 31 March 2020.

Written Question
Healthy Start Scheme
Tuesday 24th November 2020

Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of healthy start vouchers.

Answered by Jo Churchill

The Department is currently developing a digital approach to Healthy Start, to make it easier for families to apply for and use the scheme. We are developing and testing an online application form for Healthy Start, to replace the current paper form, and a payment card to replace paper vouchers.

All eligible beneficiaries receive a letter inviting them to apply for Healthy Start, together with a pre-populated application form. The scheme is also promoted through the Healthy Start and Start4Life websites.