No ban on junk food ads

The Government refused to ban junk food TV advertising aimed at children as it set out its three-year plan to tackle Britain's public health crisis.

Ministers were bracing themselves for further criticism of their plans for public health reform, seen by many as the Cinderella of the health service.

Experts will say measures outlined today do not go far enough as they also do not include an outright ban on smoking in public places.

Three documents outline measures to reduce smoking, sexually transmitted infections and obesity, improve diet and exercise and combat killer diseases such as cancer.

The Government is sensitive to accusations of adopting a nanny-state approach ahead of the general election. Instead the measures to combat obesity will offer an NHS tailored fitness programme only "to people who want it". Ministers want to "build an active society" as only a third of men and a quarter of women do enough exercise to get any health

But while the papers spell out what is expected of the food and drinks industry, schools and doctors, some critics will say the measures do not go far enough.

Doctors insist the Government must introduce an outright ban on smoking in all public places and want tighter controls on the food industry. The strategy falls short of a ban on TV advertising of junk food aimed at children and the food industry is resisting a mandatory "traffic-light" labelling system for healthy and unhealthy products.

Today's three-year plan outlines the key steps to delivering on the 170 pledges set out in last year's public health White Paper.

The key aims are: tackling the health gap between rich and poor: reducing the number of smokers: tackling obesity; improving sexual health; improving mental health and well-being; encouraging sensible drinking.

Public health minister

benefits. Melanie Johnson said: "We heard that people wanted to be able to make healthier choices but that they wanted some support from the Government to do this."

The document said the Government will ask industry, the voluntary sector and professional bodies to hold themselves accountable through codes of practice but these will be backed up with legislation if they do not succeed.

It warned that regulators such as Ofcom and the Foods Standards Agency should be prepared to play their part.

Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said public health had been the Cinderella of the health service for too long. She said: "There are many positive proposals in the White Paper, but we are looking for more. In its current form the measures are not enough to narrow the widening gap between rich and poor."