Written question asked by Andy Slaughter (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 July 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 October 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 9 October 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Diabetes

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to educate children and parents on diabetes prevention.

Answer: Funding is made available to national health service services to implement services locally and as a result, awareness campaigns are more likely to be developed locally in primary care trusts (PCT) and hospitals rather than centrally.Obesity is one of the major causes of type 2 diabetes. Reducing obesity is one of our key priorities and we are helping children and their parents to make a step change in their lifestyles and attitude to food and fitness through a raft of cross Government public health measures. We are developing a new national healthy living social marketing programme which will focus on families and children under age 11 aimed at improving the healthiness of people’s lifestyles in the areas of diet and physical activity. This will be launched early in 2007. These measures will help to support the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's definitive guidance on the prevention and management of obesity which is due to be published in November 2006.Our, ‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Say’ White Paper also sets out a new direction for health and social care services and we are reorganising health and social care services to focus together on prevention and health promotion. For 2008, PCT local delivery plans will have to include a clear strategy for the development of preventative services.

Secondary information