Jowell rejects hasty health measures

27 May 04
Tessa Jowell, the government's culture secretary and self-declared public health 'nanny', has warned that Labour will not be rushed into measures to curb damaging trends such as obesity despite 'urgent' warnings from MPs this week.

28 May 2004

Tessa Jowell, the government's culture secretary and self-declared public health 'nanny', has warned that Labour will not be rushed into measures to curb damaging trends such as obesity – despite 'urgent' warnings from MPs this week.

Her comments came 24 hours before the Commons' health select committee published a damning report on the 'devastating' problem of obesity across Britain, calling for rapid action.

However, as Jowell addressed a King's Fund debate on public health on May 26, leaked details had already made public the MPs' criticisms.

The report warns that failure to address the fast-rising cost of obesity, estimated at £7.4bn per year, could threaten the end of a publicly funded health service.

It also slams the government's 'woefully inadequate' record in addressing the 'epidemic' – 25% of women and 21% of men are defined as obese and the condition will soon supersede tobacco use as the greatest cause of premature death.

Ministers are castigated for endorsing the sale of junk food to children, their failure to ensure that schoolchildren take enough exercise every week, and for ill-conceived transport networks that prevent wider take-up of healthier travel, such as cycling.

But Jowell defended Labour's public health record, claiming the government had been 'brave' in addressing contributory factors such as literacy problems and unemployment.

She spoke defiantly of Labour's need to expand its 'enabling' role in bringing issues to the attention of those most likely to suffer poor health, such as the less affluent.

'Where support [for people to act] does not exist… then other sources of that support must be provided… in order to address personal circumstances that are otherwise insurmountable,' she said.

But despite calling for a 'rock and rolling' debate on where to strike the balance between government 'nannying' and individual responsibility, Jowell said the government would not be rushed into measures to curb the actions of either citizens or corporations.

'There is a process here and if you like modern, healthy, grown up politics… you must engage in that process.'

Her response led to cynicism among audience members smarting from reports that heavy lobbying from the powerful food industry could be inhibiting the government from taking more radical action.

PFmay2004

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