4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales — Our national ambitions to prevent and reduce obesity in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:30 pm on 29 January 2019.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 4:30, 29 January 2019

I'm happy to confirm the commitment I've already given to an October date for the strategy to be published, and I expect it to have milestones and measures, but for there to be smart milestones, measures and targets, not aspirational ones. I'm really keen to actually have something that is achievable, as well as measures where we can track our progress, so people can see the progress that we are making not just as a Government and public services, but actually how we're influencing and helping to change behaviours, because much of what we're talking about, really, is how we help to change people's behaviour, as well as one of the point you made about how we make healthier choices easier choices. That's really important for us as well. 

And on one of those points, of course, unfortunately, it is not at all clear—in fact, the majority view is that we don't have the powers to have public health considerations as a legitimate planning construct, so we can't restrict the number of fast food outlets around schools, leisure centres or other areas. I think that is a problem. It is an area that the Welsh Government argued with the UK Government over with the passage of the last Wales Act, about powers deliberately retained by the UK Government. I think we would be able to make much more progress if we could take that into account as a legitimate planning consideration, and I think that we would all be much the better off for. But that still does not mean that when we consider planning healthy environments taking advantage of what we have, that there isn't more that we can do already in the way that we deliver services and the way we plan new developments.

On your broader point about healthy settings and the activity in schools, there's a point here about health literacy as part of the new curriculum. We've just had a statement lasting over an hour with questions about the development of the new curriculum. We're very clear about the role of health and health literacy within that new curriculum. To be clear about activity in schools, we're not just talking about the daily mile and we're not just talking about sport in schools as well, because people like me who loved and enjoyed sport are one group of people, but, actually, there are others who never liked it at all. But we still need to understand that activity is an important part of getting around and getting on, and that doesn't mean to say we're going to say that everyone has to get up and be brutalised by wearing far too little clothing on a cold day and having someone shout at you; that is not a great way to make people fall in love with a sport or any other form of particular activity. It's how to normalise activity that I think matters.

And on your point about cultural change—of course, that is exactly what I said we're looking to achieve, and I'm sure that the Member for Llanelli will be taking forward his continuing interest in active travel, for example. I mentioned that in the statement about how we get around and move around. That will really matter too. But also, I'm sure you'll recall, of course, the healthy and active fund, with £5 million, that I was very happy to launch with my colleague the Deputy Minister for culture—. It's a slightly updated title now—Deputy Minister for Welsh language and international Affairs. No? That's the Minister. Lord Elis-Thomas anyway—[Laughter.]—and I launched the £5 million healthy and active fund. That's about making use of all the assets that we have and, again, it's looking to promote cultural change, as well as to make the best use of all the opportunities for greater physical activity. 

Finally, on your point about breastfeeding, it's a regular topic we return to in the Chamber, and so we should do. There's a challenge with the move from breast is best to breast is normal, and to normalise breastfeeding and to make sure that it is accepted and supported, and, equally, that women who make different choices about feeding their children are not judged either. And that's your final point about not judging people, about wanting to support people to make healthier choices, and not wanting to tip people into a place where they have eating disorders either by overeating or undereating, but actually about how we say, 'What is a healthy weight and a healthy mind to be able to maintain and sustain a healthy weight?', and that is the focus of our attention. That is the way I want the conversation to carry on.