§ 29. Dr. David Kerrasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to encourage courses in nutrition for all children of secondary school age.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Denis Howell)This is a matter for the local education authorities and the schools, but the study of nutrition normally forms part of courses in biology and is the basis of the syllabus for all home economics courses in secondary schools. The Department's pamphlets "Health in Education" and "Health Education" both contain suggestions on teaching the subject as part of the pupil's normal course. Nutrition also features in the Department's short courses for teachers on health in education.
§ Dr. KerrDoes not my hon. Friend conceive that perhaps something should be done to offset the damage to children's attitudes towards nutrition caused by the Government's cancellation of the secondary schools free milk service? Has he considered whether the cost of providing the nutritional course would exceed or be less than the fiddling amount saved by the Government's policy?
§ Mr. HowellI do not think that the amount saved by cuts in secondary school milk can be described in the terms my hon. Friend suggested. That was not the view of its critics. We much prefer the great and vigorous campaign my right hon. Friend has conducted to get a take-up of free school meals by children living in poverty. I am happy to tell the House that in the past 12 months we have found 180,000 children who now have free school meals as a result of that campaign.