HC Deb 01 April 2004 vol 419 c1564W
Mr. Watson

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of links between television advertising and obesity in children. [165031]

Estelle Morris

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made no separate assessment of links between TV advertising and obesity in children but the Department continues to participate in the consultations being undertaken by the Food Standards Agency on the possible impact of broadcast advertising on childhood obesity.

The Secretary of State has also asked Ofcom to examine the adequacy of its codes regulating the content of broadcast advertising of food to children and Ofcom has indicated that it will make its own assessment of the evidence.

The impact of food promotion must be considered in the context of the wide range of factors which may have an influence on the increase in childhood obesity, which the Government are addressing through a number of cross-departmental initiatives.