Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Childhood and Obesity action plan to tackle the link between social deprivation and childhood obesity.

The policies in our world-leading childhood obesity plan are being implemented with a focus on reducing inequalities. For example, the soft drinks industry levy and reformulation programme are expected to be most effective in helping reduce childhood obesity for those with lower incomes.

The plan also delivers school based interventions including revenue from the soft drinks industry levy being invested in programmes to reduce obesity and encourage physical activity and balanced diets for school age children. With the revenue from the soft drinks industry levy we are investing £26 million in breakfast clubs, for the next three years. This money will kick-start or improve breakfast clubs in over 1,770 schools, with a focus on increasing provision for disadvantaged pupils in Opportunity Areas.

Our newly announced chapter two of the Childhood Obesity Plan will recognise the higher prevalence of childhood obesity amongst the most deprived children.