The Government aims to protect public health but its plans will not restrict people's freedom of choice, health secretary John Reid has said.

Tomorrow's White Paper on public health is expected to suggest how to tackle the increasing problems of childhood obesity and smoking-related illnesses.

Initiatives such as simplified labelling of foods, restrictions to when junk food adverts can be shown and banning smoking in public places are likely to play a crucial role in Government policy.

However, while some critics accuse Labour of introducing a "nanny-state" and curtailing people's freedom to make independent decisions, Dr Reid said it wanted to help adults make informed choices.

He told ITV's the Sunday Programme that the Government would only intervene when children and other vulnerable people are being exposed to unhealthy lifestyles.

"What people told us, particularly mums and dads, is they expect a higher level of intervention to protect children, because the starting point is to let adults make their own informed choices, even when it's an unhealthy choice they have the right to do so," he said.

"But children and more vulnerable and weaker people need a bit more protection from the Government. And that balances the role of the individual and the role of the Government."
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