Written question asked by Earl Howe (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Warner (Labour) on Thursday, 7 July 2005.

NHS: Obesity and Slimming

Question: What progress has been made in ensuring that primary care trusts produce strategies to address the problem of obesity; what guidance and resources are made available to such trusts to assist them in producing such strategies; and whether that assistance includes information about slimming on referral.

Answer: The Government are aware of the work of Slimming World in Greater and Central Derby primary care trust (PCT). The White Paper Choosing Health makes a commitment to look into the role the independent sector, including Slimming World and programmes such as slimming on referral, can play in providing effective behaviour change programmes.As part of the local delivery plan process, strategic health authorities are required to submit plans to tackle obesity. These have been received and are being assessed. The promised obesity care pathway, weight loss guide and obesity toolkit will help to support PCTs in delivering their plans, prior to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance in 2007.

Secondary information