Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether restrictions on advertising and promotional deals on unhealthy foods were included in drafts of the Government's childhood obesity plan prior to the publication of the final version of that plan.

In developing the plan we have been very open about the fact we considered a number of different policies and have focused on the ones that are likely to have the biggest impact on childhood obesity.

The policies in the plan are informed by the latest research and evidence, including from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report Carbohydrates and Health, Public Health England’s evidence package Sugar reduction: the evidence for action, other government departments, debates in this House and various reports from key stakeholders including the Health Select Committee.

Current restrictions on the advertising of less healthy food and drink in the United Kingdom are amongst the toughest in the world. Alongside this, we welcome the action taken by forward thinking retailers on promotions, these voluntary actions mean that business can move more quickly and go beyond what regulation would permit.

Copies of Carbohydrates and Health and Sugar reduction: the evidence for action are attached and are available at:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445503/SACN_Carbohydrates_and_Health.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/470179/Sugar_reduction_The_evidence_for_action.pdf