Written questions by Cooper.

Whether he plans to use indicators of health other than Body Mass Index to inform public health (a) priorities, (b) decisions and (c) strategies.

One of the Government’s five missions is to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future. The Health Mission has an overall objective to reduce the amount of time spent in ill-health, tackle health inequalities, and drive economic growth.As part of this, we’ll be taking ambitious steps to improve the nation’s health, so that we see improvement across a range of public health indicators, including obesity. Further details will be set out in due course.

What steps his Department plans to take to tackle childhood obesity in the Health Mission Delivery Board.

Supporting people to stay healthier for longer is at the heart of this government’s Health Mission. We face a childhood obesity crisis and this government will take action to tackle it head on, easing the strain on the National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.The Health Mission has an overall objective to reduce the amount of time spent in ill-health, tackle health inequalities and drive economic growth. This brings together all government departments with an influence over the social determinants of health, to drive forward action in these areas.We are committed to implementing the Advertising Regulations of less healthy food to children, empowering councils to block the development of new fast-food shops outside schools and banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old.Further action on obesity under the Government’s Health Mission will be set out in due course.

What progress his Department has made on (a) implementing and (b) training additional mental health staff to help relieve waiting lists.

We know that the National Health Service has been facing chronic workforce shortages for a number of years and, while there has been growth in the mental health workforce over recent years, more is needed.That is why, as part of our mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future and is there when people need it, we will recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers to reduce waiting times and provide faster treatment. We recognise that bringing in the staff needed will take time. We are working to develop a plan to deliver this expansion of the mental health workforce, including where they should be deployed to achieve maximum effect.

Whether he plans to establish a health mission to tackle the (a) social determinants of health and (b) regional gap in healthy life expectancy.

The Government has established a mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future. As part of this mission, the Government will tackle the social determinants of health, with the aim of halving the gap in healthy life expectancy between the r...

What steps his Department is taking to protect those most at risk of harm from gambling and betting.

The Government recognises the negative impact gambling can have on individuals, their families, and wider society. The Government has set out our commitment to reducing gambling-related harm by reforming regulation and strengthening protections. We will c...

What progress his Department has made on the implementation of a ban on junk food advertising before the watershed.

As set out in the King’s Speech, in this parliamentary session, we will bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink products before 9:00pm on television, and all paid-for advertising of these...