asked the Minister of Health if he will undertake a national campaign against obesity.

I am not satisfied that any such campaign is likely to be effective.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that about two-thirds of the people in this country are overweight and that this leads to heart disease, arthritis, postural backache and flat feet? Does he not think that it would pay dividends if his Department undertook a campaign of this kind, which would relieve the National Health Service of a good deal of the problems which are caused by overweight? Is he also aware that large numbers of children are overweight and that if he were to——

Order. The hon. Lady must learn to slim her questions.

I fear that you anticipated the very comment I was about to make, Mr. Sneaker. After the points made in question form by my hon. Friend, perhaps I now know the reason why I sometimes feel so ill. Experience of obesity clinics, both in this country and the United States, has proved very disappointing indeed. It is not just a question of getting off weight. It has been found that people who reduce their weight often do not have the same strength of character as my hon. Friend to continue with the slimming process.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the hon. Lady's campaign got off to a good start as a result of the activities of the bakers' union?