Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Childhood Obesity Plan, Chapter two, what steps he is taking to ensure the halving of childhood obesity by 2030.

As part of delivering measures outlined in chapter two of the childhood obesity plan, we have held consultations on ending the sale of energy drinks to children, calorie labelling in the out-of-home sector, restricting promotions of fatty and sugary products by location and by price, and introducing further advertising restrictions on TV and online for products high is fat, salt and sugar. The consultation on Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services runs until 13 August. We have received a high level of responses to the consultations and it is important we take the time to consider them carefully before we set out further action.

Chapter 3 of the childhood obesity plan, published on 22 July 2019 as part of ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’, sets out further measures to help meet our ambition including confirmation of our intention to end the sale of energy drinks to children under the age of 16, and our plans for infant feeding, clear nutrition labelling, food reformulation to improve the nutritional content of foods, and support for individuals to achieve and maintain a healthier weight.

In addition, the Chief Medical Officer is reviewing what more can be done to help us meet our ambition of halving childhood obesity by 2030. The review, due to report in September, will consider the approaches taken internationally, regionally and across the country, and will make a series of recommendations.

‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’ is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/advancing-our-health-prevention-in-the-2020s