On Wednesday 27 August, Andrew Lansley set out his party's policy on public health with the centrepiece a new 'responsibility deal'. In a speech entitled 'No excuses, no nannying', he said that he understood why the respected government body for examining the future, Foresight, said that there was an 'obesogenic environment'. While accurate as a description, he though it 'counter-productive as a message'.

'Tell people that biology and the environment causes obesity and they are offered the one thing we have to avoid: an excuse. As it is, people who see more overweight people around them may themselves be more likely to gain weight.. Peer pressure and social norms are powerful influences on behaviour. They are also classic excuses for risky and damaging behaviour.

'That doesn't mean I want to ignore the environmental factors. On the contrary, we have to deal with them, actively and urgently. But I do feel, strongly, that as we do so, we should also focus on how people can and should take responsibility for their lifestyle and health.'

Alongside the plans for public health that he has already announced, including the ring-fencing of public health budgets, he also announced a 'responsibility deal'. This is a partnership between government and business that avoids the need for regulation. The deal has 10 proposals:

• supporting EU proposals for a mandatory GDA-based front of pack food labelling
• industry-led reformulation initiatives and reduction of portion sizes
• proportionate regulation on advertising and positive campaigns from the industry and government to promote better diet
• a combined business and Government social responsibility campaign to promote healthy living, including the use of role models, community engagement and positive peer pressure
• a new focus on public health through Local Area Agreements, incorporating direct local business involvement in campaigns to promote exercise, community sport and healthy lifestyles
• a responsible drinking campaign matched by community action projects to address drug abuse, STIs and alcohol abuse, using a proportion of drinks industry advertising budgets and supported by the Government
• Community Alcohol Partnerships, based on the successful example from St Neots in Cambridgeshire
• clear labelling on alcoholic drinks and a push for the standardisation of labelling where necessary at a European level
• incentives and a local structure, through business organisations, for SMEs to improve the health of their employees, working with business organisations, "NHS Plus" and the Fitness Industry Association
• an 'Investor in Health' accreditation scheme alongside 'Investors in People'.

Mr Lansley has asked Dave Lewis, Chairman of Unilever UK, to chair a working group of business representatives, voluntary groups and experts to invite views on these proposals and hammer out the detail of the Deal.