Alcohol and smoking targeted in health plan

Mr Lansley, who is due to publish a public health White Paper this week, confirmed the Government was preparing a range of interventions intended to reduce health inequalities.

But the proposals have already come under fire for attempting to "micro-manage" people's lives.

Among the measures is a proposal to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes, a ban on the sale of low-cost alcohol and a pilot scheme for employers to offer workplace breastfeeding areas for women returning to work after having a baby.

The scheme would offer dedicated areas in the workplace where mothers can breastfeed and store expressed milk, and greater flexibility over when they can take their breaks.

Mr Lansley insisted that while the Government wanted to avoid over-regulation, sometimes it was appropriate for the state to intervene in people's lives for the sake of their health.

He said: "We have tried a lot of things and we do need occasionally to intervene.

"But more than that we need to support people. Especially some of the poorest in our society need to have the greatest support because health inequalities are too wide.

"We need to deliver improvements in the health of the poorest in this country the fastest."

However former Tory Minister Ann Widdecombe said that this was not the approach which she expected from a Tory-led Government.

"I could absolutely weep," she said. "Now we have got the state actually saying to employers in a time of recession you must provide paid breaks, paid facilities, a special fridge for expressed milk and goodness knows what else for women returning to work who have decided, on their responsibility presumably, to have a child.

"It is not appropriate for the state to micro-manage our lives as they are doing."