That this House congratulates the All Party Parliamentary Weight Watchers Group on the success of the Weight Watchers Westminster Awards 2005-06, during which members lost a total of fifteen and a half stone and raised ??2,000 for charity; salutes the hon. Member for Portsmouth North and the hon. Member for East Hampshire on their winning efforts on behalf of Portsmouth Area Rape Crisis and The Rosemary Foundation; applauds the members of the Westminster staff weigh-in for losing a total of 19 stone and raising another ??2,000 for charity; welcomes the additional ??4,000 donated by Weight Watchers to the British Heart Foundation as part of the challenge; and commends the contribution of the All Party Parliamentary Weight Watchers Group to the health and fitness of hon. Members of both Houses.

That this House congratulates the All Party Parliamentary Weight Watchers Group on the success of the Weight Watchers Westminster Awards 2005-06, during which members lost a total of fifteen and a half stone and raised ??2,000 for charity; salutes the hon. Member for Portsmouth North and the hon. Member for...

That this House welcomes the focus of the White Paper on Public Health on the need to tackle the growing problems of overweight and obesity; welcomes in this context the slimming on referral project developed by Slimming World, in association with primary care trusts; notes that this slimming on referral programme offers overweight patients free membership of a local group at reduced cost to the National Health Service; observes that the required target of between five per cent. and 10 per cent. weight loss for health improvement is achieved by a high percentage of patients participating in this programme at a net cost to the NHS substantially lower than many other options including the use of prescription drugs; commends the slimming on referral approach to the Department of Health and to primary care trusts and strategic health authorities developing obesity strategies; and invites Ministers to promote slimming on referral as one of the range of legitimate, scientifically validated options for weight reduction that are being taken forward by the Department of Health.

That this House welcomes the focus of the White Paper on Public Health on the need to tackle the growing problems of overweight and obesity; welcomes in this context the slimming on referral project developed by Slimming World, in association with primary care trusts; notes that this slimming on referral...

That this House notes that the Third Annual Reception of the Westminster Diet and Health Forum was held in the Terrace Marquee of the House on Tuesday 15th November, sponsored by the United Kingdom's largest slimming organisation, Slimming World, and attended by Right honourable and honourable Members from both Houses and all political parties, as well as by consumer organisations, healthcare professionals, the food industry, the media and others; welcomes the contribution that the Forum has made since its launch to raising the level of interest in and debate about key aspects of public policy on nutrition and health through its series of national seminars and publications on a wide range of issues including obesity, health inequalities, nutrition and school age children, alcohol regulation, sport and activity, risk assessment, salt, advertising to children, nutrition and education, and the White Paper on public health; and extends to the Forum its best wishes for every future success in its mission to create and sustain an independent environment for the discussion of public policy in this vital area.

That this House notes that the Third Annual Reception of the Westminster Diet and Health Forum was held in the Terrace Marquee of the House on Tuesday 15th November, sponsored by the United Kingdom's largest slimming organisation, Slimming World, and attended by Right honourable and honourable Members from both Houses...

That this House enthusiastically supports the British consumers' right to make an informed choice when purchasing and consuming food; recognises that the UK's three million vegetarians and vegans face many more hurdles and misleading labelling than the average consumer; notes with concern that the Food Standard Agency's Strategic Plan for 2005 to 2010 does not acknowledge the plight of vegetarians and vegans; and calls on the Government not only to introduce and promote good practice guidelines for the term `suitable for vegetarians' but also to ensure that such guidelines are supported by clear targets and regular monitoring so that clear, honest food labelling is available to all consumers.

That this House enthusiastically supports the British consumers' right to make an informed choice when purchasing and consuming food; recognises that the UK's three million vegetarians and vegans face many more hurdles and misleading labelling than the average consumer; notes with concern that the Food Standard Agency's Strategic Plan for...

That this House notes that there is a crisis in children's diet-related health, demonstrated by alarming increases in childhood obesity and the appearance of adult-onset diseases, such as type II diabetes, in schoolchildren, which the Food Standards Agency has described as a timebomb which needs to be defused; further notes that the 2000 National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows that nine in 10 children consume more saturated fat and eight in 10 children consume more sugar and five in 10 children consume more salt than levels recommended for adults; recognises that this situation is caused by a number of factors, including marketing to children of foods containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt, the poor composition of foods on sale in schools, the lack of practical cooking skills in the national curriculum and insufficient promotion to children of healthy foods; and therefore supports in principle the Children's Food Bill which will result in the implementation of a range of measures which will improve children's diets and future health.

That this House notes that there is a crisis in children's diet-related health, demonstrated by alarming increases in childhood obesity and the appearance of adult-onset diseases, such as type II diabetes, in schoolchildren, which the Food Standards Agency has described as a timebomb which needs to be defused; further notes...

That this House notes that the level of obesity in the United Kingdom has more than trebled over the last 20 years and that one in five adults is now obese; congratulates The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) on the organisation of National Obesity Awareness Week commencing on 22nd March; extends to TOAST its best wishes for continuing success in highlighting the scale and causes of obesity and the need for public policy to promote access to a range of possible solutions, and for providing practical support for those who are overweight and obese; further notes the proposed establishment by TOAST of Toast House to be a centre of excellence for work on all aspects of obesity through conference facilities, training courses and support programmes, counselling, healthy living and residential facilities, motivational support and research resources; and hopes that it will receive the support necessary to realise its vision.

That this House notes that the level of obesity in the United Kingdom has more than trebled over the last 20 years and that one in five adults is now obese; congratulates The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) on the organisation of National Obesity Awareness Week commencing on 22nd...

That this House welcomes the World Health Organisation expert report on diet and chronic disease; notes that the report states that dietary factors and excess body weight contribute significantly to the incidence of some types of cancer; further notes that the report recommends an adequate daily intake of fruit and vegetables to reduce the risk of oral, oesophageal, stomach and colorectal cancers; further notes that the increase in global urbanisation has distanced people from the source of primary food production and calls on the Government to take further steps to ensure access to a varied and nutritious diet with sufficient fruit and vegetables for people on low incomes.

That this House welcomes the World Health Organisation expert report on diet and chronic disease; notes that the report states that dietary factors and excess body weight contribute significantly to the incidence of some types of cancer; further notes that the report recommends an adequate daily intake of fruit and...

That this House notes that much of the food aimed at children has increased in salt content in the last 25 years; further notes that the salt content in crisps has almost doubled since 1978, from an average of 540mg per 100g to 1050mg per 100g in 2003; expresses concern that most people, including children, consume about twice the maximum recommended daily intake of salt; observes that babies do not have the capacity to process large quantities of salt which may result in kidney, liver and brain damage; acknowledges that eating high levels of salt is linked to high blood pressure, which is the main cause of strokes, hypertension and a major factor in heart attacks; recognises that it is very difficult to cut back on salt because it is hidden in everyday products such as bread, canned soup and baked beans; believes that lowering the average population salt intake would confer significant public health benefits by contributing to a reduction in the burden of cardiovascular disease; and urges the Government to take steps to bring about a reduction in salt content in food.

That this House notes that much of the food aimed at children has increased in salt content in the last 25 years; further notes that the salt content in crisps has almost doubled since 1978, from an average of 540mg per 100g to 1050mg per 100g in 2003; expresses concern...

That this House congratulates BBC Scotland on their programme, Slim Chance, in the Frontline Scotland series to be broadcast on Tuesday 8th December; welcomes their expose of the slimming pill industry in Scotland; calls on the Departments of Health in England, Wales and Scotland to take urgent action to ensure that members of the public are fully protected from any possible dangers, medical, financial or otherwise; and calls on the General Medical Council to take any action it deems appropriate against those who may be acting unethically.

That this House congratulates BBC Scotland on their programme, Slim Chance, in the Frontline Scotland series to be broadcast on Tuesday 8th December; welcomes their expose of the slimming pill industry in Scotland; calls on the Departments of Health in England, Wales and Scotland to take urgent action to ensure...

That this House notes with concern that cancer is now the number one killer disease in the UK and that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer with some 18,000 deaths caused by it each year, that while it is rare in those aged under 40 years, age-specific rates rise continuously and steeply after the age of 50, that research indicates that while it is likely that genetic factors are involved in the development of bowel cancer the majority of cases occur sporadically and that lifestyle factors are likely to be highly significant, and that leading international experts agree that a diet rich in cereal fibre is protective against bowel cancer; congratulates the Cancer Research Campaign and Kellogg's on the joint initiative to raise awareness of the incidence of bowel cancer in this country and highlight the role a fibre-rich diet can play in helping to protect individuals simply and cost-effectively against this disease; and believing that prevention is better than cure, urges the Government to support this initiative and make the reduction of bowel cancer a priority.

That this House notes with concern that cancer is now the number one killer disease in the UK and that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer with some 18,000 deaths caused by it each year, that while it is rare in those...

That this House supports the approach of Her Majesty's Government that food safety policy should be based upon sound science; and therefore invites the Minister for Food Safety to ask the Food Advisory Committee and the Committee on Toxicity to re-examine the published literature on the safety of vitamin B6 supplements, to consult more widely with international scientific experts on the application of safety factors to nutrients, and to review their recommendations on the safe levels of such supplements.

That this House supports the approach of Her Majesty's Government that food safety policy should be based upon sound science; and therefore invites the Minister for Food Safety to ask the Food Advisory Committee and the Committee on Toxicity to re-examine the published literature on the safety of vitamin B6...