Food: Advertising

(asked on 2nd March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Government has made of the potential economic impact of advertising restriction provisions in the Health and Care Bill.


Answered by
Maggie Throup Portrait
Maggie Throup
This question was answered on 11th March 2022

The introduction of restrictions on the advertising of products high in fat, salt or sugar on TV and paid for advertising online is part of a range of measures to tackle obesity. A post-implementation review will be undertaken within five years of the introduction of restrictions. A sunset clause would pre-empt this evaluative work and could undermine compliance with the regulations.

The impact assessment for this policy published in June 2021 shows the health benefits outweigh the costs to business and the Government. The health benefits accrued when appraised over 100 years are estimated at around £2 billion. Additionally, the policy will provide savings for the National Health Service of £50 million, in social care £40 million and reduced premature mortality is expected to deliver an additional £119 million of economic output. Professor Andrew Stephen’s analysis was considered alongside other responses to the consultation and, where appropriate, the impact assessment was updated.

Reticulating Splines