Sugar Tax delay

The head of Public Health England is being hauled before MPs amid accusations that vital evidence is being withheld about the merits of a sugar tax.

17:30 14 October 2015

MPs have asked Mr Duncan Selbie to appear in front of the Commons Health Select Committee on Monday to discuss the report on sugar reduction, which will be the basis of the government’s strategy to fight childhood obesity.

 

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt confirmed that the report will be published later this year along with PHE’s report containing evidence on fiscal measures relating to sugar-sweetened drinks as well as advertising of foods to children.

 

Meanwhile, Dr Sarah Wollaston, the head of the Commons Health Select Committee has accused Public Health England of obstructing its child obesity inquiry by refusing to publish the report.

 

In a letter addressed to Mr Duncan, Dr Wollaston said: "Delayed publication is as harmful as non-publication if this means that the public and health professionals wishing to influence the content of the obesity strategy do not have access to the data before the ink is dry on the obesity strategy."

 

The obesity strategy will explore a number of measures to fight obesity including imposing mandatory tax on sugary fizzy drinks.