Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Preventing Ill Health

Tuesday 24 February 2026 · 4 questions

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

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial questions focused on preventing childhood obesity and the impact of junk food advertising.
  • A meeting with a Minister was offered to discuss challenges faced by pharmacies due to rising costs.
  • Concerns were raised about puberty-blocking treatments, with the response citing regulatory oversight and clinical trials.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Naseem Shah Lab Bradford West
Context

In Bradford West, childhood obesity rates are alarmingly high. Over one in five children start primary school overweight or obese, with this figure rising to over one in three by the time they leave primary school.

Question

In Bradford West, more than one in five children begins primary school overweight or obese. By the time they leave primary school, that figure rises to one in three children. Will the Minister set out how this Government's world-leading new ban on junk food advertising will help parents to give every child the best and healthiest start in life?

Answer from Ashley Dalton

I thank my hon. Friend for outlining the very real crisis of childhood obesity. It is a problem that robs children of the best possible start in life and sets them up for a whole lifetime of health problems. This Government have come down hard and delivered our commitment to restrict advertisements for junk food on TV and online. That action will remove around 7.2 billion calories from children's diets every single year.

Answered
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Q2 Naseem Shah Lab Bradford West
NHS
Context

Pharmacies are facing challenges due to rising costs and a lack of funding. The questioner has written multiple times to the Minister for Care about these issues.

Question

Last week, I raised the challenges that pharmacies in my constituency of South West Hertfordshire and across the country are facing due to rising costs and a lack of funding support. How can I arrange a meeting with him to discuss these concerns further?

Answer from Ashley Dalton

The Minister responsible runs a regular ministerial surgery and would be more than happy to meet the hon. Member.

Partly answered

How: Working With Partners

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Q3 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
NHS
Context

The puberty blockers trial has been paused due to a letter from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The Minister is asked when they were first aware of this.

Question

I declare an interest as a consultant paediatrician in the NHS. Prevention of ill health is crucial. It is particularly important in children, perhaps most especially when one is trying to prevent ill health in children caused by doctors. I have expressed concerns previously about the puberty blockers trial, as have many in both Houses. The trial has now been paused due to a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency letter. When were Ministers first aware of that letter and when were they first aware of the concerns described within it?

Answer from Ashley Dalton

This is a perfectly ordinary occurrence in certain research trials. The trial has been paused, and we will leave the regulators and clinicians to do their jobs to ensure that all trials are done appropriately.

Not addressed: Dates of awareness of the MHRA letter and concerns

How: This Is A Perfectly Ordinary Occurrence

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Q4 Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham
NHS
Context

The MHRA's view on the puberty blockers trial has changed. The Minister is asked to explain why.

Question

That is a very interesting answer. Before Christmas, the Secretary of State had confidence in an allegedly vigorous and rigorous process. Fertility preservation techniques have not deteriorated over the last few months. The ages at which children reach the Tanner stages of puberty have not changed over the last few months, but the MHRA's view has. Why? Given that this is such a scrutinised trial, does that not call into question the MHRA's wider competence and due diligence? Will the Minister publish the MHRA's letter from November referred to in the more recent correspondence published on Friday?

Answer from Ashley Dalton

Why the MHRA has changed its view is a question for the MHRA. That is why we run such trials. It is an independent regulator.

Not addressed: Reasons for change in MHRA's view and publishing letters

How: Why The Mhra Has Changed Its View Is A Question For The Mhra

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