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Reasons for disagreeing to the Lords amendments reported, and agreed to; to be communicated to the Lords.
PETITIONS
Bridleway Bridge (Berkshire)
10.39 pm
Mr. David Rendel (Newbury) (LD): I should like to present a petition on behalf of 55 residents who live in and around the area concerned that reads:
Declares that the Bridleway Bridge (Bridge number 9), spanning the A34 and the Oxford Road (south of Chieveley, Berkshire) urgently requires painting and/or cladding.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Transport to take steps to ensure that the Bridleway Bridge is painted and/or clad and thereafter properly maintained.
Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
10.40 pm
Mr. Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester) (Lab): This petition is signed by 762 residents of Gloucestershire, all of whom have had their names printed in the local newspaper, The Citizen, today and is supported by my Gloucestershire colleagues, my hon. Friends the Members for Stroud (Mr. Drew) and for Forest of Dean (Diana Organ).
The petition of the residents of Gloucestershire declares their support for the soldiers of the Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment; their recognition of the great history of the Glorious Glosters, spanning more than 300 years; their pride in the Glosters' unique "Back Badge", which was won when soldiers fought back to back against Napoleon's troops at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801; and their belief that the Back Badge is part of the military heritage of the Glorious Glosters, of which Gloucestershire people are proud.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to support the campaign backed by local veterans, the Royal British Legion, residents and The Gloucester Citizen newspaper to retain the Back Badge.
16 Nov 2004 : Column 1327
Diabetes
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Mr. Heppell.]
10.42 pm
Mr. David Amess (Southend, West) (Con): It is my very good fortune to have the opportunity to debate the subject of diabetes with the Minister on the very day when the Government have introduced the White Paper on public health. It could not be more relevant: Sunday was world diabetes day. This year's theme was obesity, and I am sure that the Minister would be the first to agree that the Health Committee has done some splendid work on our inquiry into obesity because, as all hon. Members know, obesity is very closely linked to the increase in diabetes. Indeed, Claire Francis of Diabetes UK said:
"The scale of the problem was acknowledged by the EU Health Council of Ministers when they last met in June."
The Council stated that the situation in Europe is very serious.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetes—yet more and more people are being diagnosed with it—and the first question on which I want the Minister to share some thoughts with the House is how far are we along the road of research into eventually finding a cure. Some good quality work must be going on among our major drug companies. According to Diabetes UK, since 1996, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased from 1.4 million to 1.8 million, and it is estimated that almost 3 million people will be suffering from diabetes by the end of the decade. There has been a huge increase, and almost 1 million people are undiagnosed.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is insulin-dependent diabetes, which has an early onset in childhood and patients are treated with insulin. It is not associated with obesity. Type 2 diabetes—non-insulin-dependent diabetes—has a later onset. Patients still produce some insulin, but that is inadequate. Blood sugar levels are controlled through diet, exercise, medication or different combinations of these. This is very much associated with obesity.
I draw to the House's attention a paragraph in our report on obesity. It said:
"Around two-thirds of the population of England are overweight or obese. Obesity has grown by almost 400 per cent. in the last 25 years and on present trends will soon surpass smoking as the greatest cause of premature loss of life. It will entail levels of sickness that will put enormous strains on the health service. On some predictions, today's generation of children will be the first for more than a century for whom life-expectancy falls."
That is absolutely shocking testimony to the way things are. The report adds:
"Obesity is associated with many health problems including coronary heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, osteoarthritis, back pain and psychological damage. The strong association between obesity and cancer has only recently come to light.
Most of the 1.8 million diabetics in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This is attributed to an ageing population and an ever-increasing number of overweight and obese people. Many Members of the House will know of close
16 Nov 2004 : Column 1328
relatives who have diabetes, and a number of their constituents will be diabetics. The issue is relevant to all 659 Members of the House. Serious health problems include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, circulation problems, nerve damage, kidney damage and eye damage. There is an even greater risk for the diabetics who are obese, who smoke and who are not physically active. Controlling diabetes is not that difficult. Complications can be reduced by controlling blood glucose and blood pressure levels through eating healthily and doing regular exercise.
The next point that I want to share with the Minister is that of food labelling. I understand that today's Government White Paper touched on the subject, but I feel strongly that there is not in supermarkets as big of range as there should be of products that can help people with diabetes. Has the Minister anything to say about that? The healthy food range on sale in supermarkets is not, sadly, necessarily as healthy as one would think. An excellent article in The Observer on October was entitled "Carb crash" and it said:
"If you are diabetic, beware the recommended bread, potato and pasta diet, says, Dr. John Briffa. It could drive your blood-sugar levels over the limit."
Many of these products still contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt. I very much believe that a healthier lifestyle has to be adhered to by those who have diabetes, but a better supply of real food and drinks would go a long way to helping them with their ailment.
The third point that I want the Minister to address is the specific issue of insulin. I have asked his colleagues a number of questions about it. More than 350,000 people have type 1 diabetes, which is treated with insulin. They can be treated with natural animal insulin or synthetic insulin. The majority of diabetics are treated with human insulin and about 30,000 diabetics use animal insulin. All insulin, whether synthetic or animal, is equally pure, but the alternative forms have different time actions and peaks of actions to suit the differing needs of diabetics. Synthetic genetically modified insulin was introduced in 1982 on the grounds that it would be a cheaper option and that the body would not produce antibodies to it. The Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust has advised me that in the years since its introduction, neither claim has been proved. However, the vast majority of diabetics have been transferred from animal insulin to synthetic insulin for no clinical reason, often without their knowledge or consent.
The Minister will be aware that I have tabled several parliamentary questions during this Session and that I have written to Lord Warner several times about insulin, and especially the possibility of the discontinuation of animal insulin. I do not criticise the charming and helpful letter of reply that I received, but when the Minister responds to the debate, I hope that he will reassure diabetics who use animal insulin that they will still be able to obtain it.
Animal insulin has been discontinued for commercial reasons in most European Union countries and many other countries throughout the world. Diabetics are
16 Nov 2004 : Column 1329
effectively denied a choice of treatments and have no alternative but to use synthetic GM insulin and suffer the adverse effects.
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