Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:55 pm on 25 April 2018.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 2:55, 25 April 2018

There are a range of measures here and, actually, when we think about the challenges that we face, this is part of the common challenges we face in a range of public health outcomes: smoking, alcohol intake, diet and exercise, and in particular diet and exercise where it refers to obesity but also alcohol as well. As to the role of schools, it isn't just about the children when they're in school of course, but that is a significant part of it, which is why I'm really pleased to be continuing to work with my cabinet colleague, the education Secretary on curriculum reform and the health and well-being domain about behaviour we want children to take on board whilst they're at school.

But there's actually a broader point about the family and the community that children live in, and what are expected behaviours within that family and the choices people make, as well, of course, as encouraging people to alter the way in which they provide food. So, steps that have already been taken, for example to reduce sugar content in drinks, are to be welcomed. There are more steps that I'd like to see food manufacturers undertake. I'm thinking about the fat content and other issues too, but we can't simply see it as one part of it. That's why I see the child in their context, the family in their context, and our obesity strand needs to think carefully about how it addresses each of those, the levers the Government has available to us, and the partners we need to work with to make a real difference for public health now and in the future.