Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:50 pm on 20 March 2018.
Thank you, First Minister. One of the biggest health challenges children face in Wales is that of childhood obesity, where Wales has some of the worst rates in the UK and, indeed, in western Europe. So, it's absolutely vital that we start to tackle that issue. Now, it has come to my attention that, over the next three years, Wales will receive £57 million as a result of the soft drinks industry levy that is being introduced next month, and in other parts of the UK that funding is going to be directed to initiatives to tackle obesity and improve activity among children. You will be aware that the Assembly's health committee is undertaking an inquiry into the physical activity of children, and I know that the Welsh Government is working up an obesity strategy that is unlikely to be cost-neutral. What assurances can you give that some of that substantial amount of funding will be redirected to tackle childhood obesity in Wales and that the strategy itself will match the scale of the challenge that we face here?