Another Crazy New Tax: Government unit 'urges fat tax'

Plans for a tax on fatty foods such as cakes and biscuits are being considered by government advisers

The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit is considering increasing duties on some food and having a sports drive to fight obesity, according to the Times.

The newspaper claims a document urges a fatty food tax as a "signal to society" because the number of obese British people has risen sharply in 20 years.

A Downing Street spokesman said the government had no plans for such a tax.

He said: "It is no secret that the government is looking at the problem of obesity. "
The spokesman said that there was agreement both in and out of government that it would not be a workable system.
However, he confirmed the story came from a minor discussion document by their strategy unit.
The Times says the strategy unit's paper, titled Personal Responsibility and Changing Behaviour, points out that NHS spending on obesity-related disease has risen.
"The main drivers - poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle - are largely outside the direct influence of the NHS," it says.
It suggests a number of policies such as a national sports drive along the lines of the successful Active Australia strategy, and lifestyle lessons in schools Tax 'life-saving'
A new tax or the extension of VAT is proposed for some dairy products, fast food and sweets.

"This would be a signal to producers as well as consumers and serve more broadly as a signal to society that nutritional content in food is important," says the document.

Last year doctors at the British Medical Association (BMA) debated a proposal to impose the full 17.5% VAT rate on a wider range of high-fat foods such as biscuits, cakes and processed meals.
The full 17.5% rate is already charged on some foods including fizzy drinks, crisps and heated burgers.

The British Medical Journal recently claimed a 'fat tax' could help prevent 1,000 premature deaths from heart disease every year in the UK.

Plans opposed
Martin Paterson, of the Food and Drink Federation, said a fat tax would hit lower income families who already spend a higher proportion of their income on food and drink.
He said: "Consumers will rightly feel patronised by "top-down" messages based on the idea that they can't think for themselves and need to be taxed into weight-loss.
"The idea that any particular food is bad for you is out of date and simplistic. A balanced diet can include snacks and treats - moderation is the key."