We are concerned about the increasing incidence of and mortality from liver disease. I congratulate my hon. Friend on his work in the all-party group on hepatology and on the many Adjournment debates that he has introduced on this issue. We are already taking action on a number of fronts to combat its primary causes—alcohol misuse, which is the most common, viral hepatitis and obesity. We accept that there is strong support for developing a national plan for liver disease.
Unlike deaths from other major diseases, which are going down significantly, deaths from liver disease caused by viral infections, obesity and excessive consumption of alcohol are, tragically, rising significantly. What more can my hon. Friend do to reverse that trend, and when will we see a national service framework established in the field of hepatology?
We have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in order to build a consensus on the issues that my hon. Friend has raised and on what we might do about them. We shall decide on our next steps in the light of that and of preliminary work on the evidence. Much of the evidence is being taken by Professor Ian Gilmore and Professor Eileen Kaner of Newcastle university. Problematic drinking is a key cause of liver disease. In our national alcohol strategy, we support a comprehensive approach, across and beyond Government, to address the consequences of harm caused by alcohol. We have a range of measures in place to tackle hepatitis B and C, such as a national hepatitis C action plan and awareness campaign. Our expert committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, is reviewing the national hepatitis B immunisation programme. Tomorrow, I shall meet some officers of the all-party group, and I hope to take the process forward as soon as possible.
Does the Under-Secretary share my concern at the growth in the instance of liver disease among younger people through the misuse of alcohol? What steps is she taking in conjunction with other Departments to target that age group to prevent the problem of binge drinking?
Our national alcohol strategy has been rolled out along with, today, a Home Office initiative on the very subject that the hon. Gentleman rightly raises. Education on liver disease and its serious consequences, which sometimes do not come to light for many years to come, is difficult to get across to young people because they live for today, and serious consequences for the liver may not become apparent for 10, 15 or even 20 years. Much more can be done and I am happy to work with the hon. Gentleman on any initiative he wants to bring to me.
Has my hon. Friend considered a requirement for a Government health warning on all tins and bottles of alcoholic beverages, similar to the warnings that we have on packets of cigarettes? A number of countries throughout the world use them.
I am informed by the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, South (Dawn Primarolo), that there is a voluntary system in place at the moment, but we can always look to do more because the consequences for young people are so serious and because the rate of deaths from liver disease in this country is rising.
What discussions has the Under-Secretary had with colleagues in the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Ministry of Justice to ensure that there is some sort of co-ordinated action whereby the contents of the strategy can be rolled out in prisons in due course, and within young offender institutions in particular? Action is urgently needed there.
The hon. Gentleman is right. The Department for Children, Schools and Families works closely with the Department of Health. Secretaries of State from both Departments meet regularly to consider the children’s plan and the health plan. It is not only alcohol that causes liver disease and hepatitis, but obesity, too. The obesity plan for young people is currently in place.