On Tuesday in House of Lords there was a discussion entitled Premature Deaths: Heart and Circulatory Conditions that was set out by Gillian Merron who is a Labour member and her initial question was “To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the increasing numbers of premature deaths from heart and circulatory conditions since 2020.” and the Government Minister Nick Markham responded initially as below. However later on in the discussion there was a significant question from Clive Brooke who is also a Labour member and he asked his question focused on “why the Government are refusing to review the regulations governing children’s meals?” and that was also responded by Nick Markham. The full range of events can be obtained from here.

Nick Markham to Gillian’s first question: The Government are committed to reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular disease. The NHS long-term plan aims to prevent 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases by 2029, as well as preventing up to 23,000 premature deaths and 50,000 acute admissions over 10 years. The major conditions strategy will look at how best to tackle the key drivers of ill health and increase the healthy years of life for people with major conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

Clive Brooke: Can the Minister say why the Government are refusing to review the regulations governing children’s meals? We know that the sugar content in them is too high and that our children are eating too much sugar. This needs to change, yet the Government refuse to look at the regulations and enforce them properly.

Nick Markham: I am not quite sure that I agree with the word “refuse”, but I agree with the noble Lord that healthy food in all environments is a good thing. I know that the delay happened because it was originally planned for 2020 or 2021, I think, and then the pandemic got in the way. I freely accept that the review now needs to take place. We are not refusing to do it, because it is an important part of the armoury.