Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on consumers of businesses substituting products high in fat, salt and sugar in prominent supermarket locations for alternatives as a result of HFSS placement restrictions.

The costs to businesses were considered in the Government’s impact assessment for the placement restrictions, published in December 2020. The impact assessment shows that the costs for businesses are expected to be £423 million per year, with transition costs in the first year expected to be £47 million. The impact assessment of the location restrictions shows that while there is a possibility of businesses passing on the cost of the regulations to consumers, due to the competitive pressures of retailers it is unlikely this would occur.

We recognise the costs associated with implementing this policy. However, the costs of obesity to individuals, society and the National Health Service are considerable and the benefits from reducing calorie intakes across the population are substantial. We are encouraging retailers to adjust the balance of promotions towards healthier options and maximise the availability of healthier products available on promotion. The impact assessment shows that this policy is expected to deliver significant health benefits of £58 billion and additionally provide savings to the NHS of over £4 billion, over a 25-year period.