Andrea yesterday spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on the sugary drinks tax proposed by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
The debate was prompted by a public petition which gained over the required 100,000 signatures for the matter to be debated in Parliament.
It also follows from the release of the Health Select Committee's report on childhood obesity, which can be read online here. The report calls for the implementation of a tax on full sugar soft drinks. Andrea is a member of the Committee and proposed an amendment which would have delayed the implementation of such a tax until other, non-punitive measures has been trialled.
Intervening on the proposer, Helen Jones MP, Andrea said:
"Does the hon. Lady agree that it is also down to personal responsibility and choice, and that it should not be down to the state to tell people how to live their lives?
"Childhood obesity is more prevalent in deprived areas, so a sugary drinks tax will hit the poorest. Surely education, better labelling and personal responsibility are key."