Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Tuesday 17 October 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister announced a significant public health intervention to create a smoke-free generation.
  • Free blood pressure checks for people over 40 in community pharmacies are being rolled out.
  • Health Ministers agreed to examine various research on long covid and lessons from the period.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Suzanne Webb
NHS
Context

The question is prompted by a need to address public health issues related to cardiovascular diseases.

Question

What steps he is taking to help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Every five cigarettes a day increases the risk of stroke by 12%. Many commercial infant and toddler foods are ultra-processed, which sets alarm bells ringing as ultra-processed food is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases and 40% of 10 to 11-year-olds are overweight or obese.

Answer from Steve Barclay

We are making the most significant public health intervention in a generation by creating a smoke-free generation. We are rolling out free blood pressure checks to people over 40 in community pharmacies, which will help to detect much earlier thousands more people living with high blood pressure. As my hon. Friend knows, there is no agreed definition for ultra-high processed food. We have to empower the patient and recognise the pressures from the cost of living.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Steps to address misleading marketing and labelling of commercial infant and toddler foods

How: We Are Empowering Patients Instead Of Taxing Or Banning Things

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Q2 Suzanne Webb
Children & Families Environment
Context

The question is prompted by concerns about misleading marketing and labelling on commercial infant and toddler foods, which are associated with cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

Question

Many commercial infant and toddler foods are ultra-processed, which sets alarm bells ringing as ultra-processed food is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases and 40% of 10 to 11-year-olds are overweight or obese. What steps are the Government taking to address the disingenuous and grossly misleading marketing and labelling of commercial infant and toddler food and drink?

Answer from Steve Barclay

There is no agreed definition for ultra-high processed food. As a general principle, I do not think we should be taxing and banning things—smoking is an outlier. We have to empower the patient and recognise the pressures from the cost of living.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No concrete steps mentioned for addressing misleading marketing and labelling

How: We Are Empowering Patients Instead Of Taxing Or Banning Things

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Q3 Andrew Bridgen Con
NHS
Context

The question is prompted by a concern over the increase in cardiac-related deaths since the roll-out of experimental mRNA vaccines.

Question

What is the Secretary of State's view on increased cardiac-related deaths in the UK and around the world since 2021, which correlates closely with the roll-out of the experimental mRNA vaccines?

Answer from Steve Barclay

It is always important to follow the science. At the G20, Health Ministers agreed to look at the various research being done in multiple countries, particularly on long covid but also on the lessons from that period.

Not addressed: The specific trend of increased cardiac-related deaths and its correlation with mRNA vaccines was not addressed directly

How: Following The Science, Looking At Research

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