HC Deb 29 February 1996 vol 272 cc988-9
7. Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes to increase appreciation of and access to nutritious food. 16103]

Mrs. Browning

The range of foodstuffs available today is such that everyone should be able to select an interesting, enjoyable and nutritious diet of their choice. My Department provides information and advice to assist people to do so.

Mr. Mackinlay

But not everyone can. Has not the Minister's own nutrition task force drawn attention to the high rate of heart disease in this country, and to the fact that by the year 2005 a quarter of women and one in five men will suffer from severe obesity unless there is a change in dietary habits and a greater awareness of the problems caused by eating junk food? Do the Government not have an obligation to ensure that the poorest and most disadvantaged people have access to the most nutritious food, and that the food industry is taken to task to make it label foods properly and give proper advice and guidance? Leadership should come from the Government to protect the health of the people of this country.

Mrs. Browning

The nutrition task force low income project team—I think that is the group to which the hon. Gentleman referred—has produced a report, which we shall publish soon. The MAFF national food survey, which has been in operation since 1940, regularly monitors the diet of a full cross-section at all levels of income. The problems of obesity and heart disease that the hon. Gentleman mentioned are indeed important, and they are among the targets of "The Health of The Nation" White Paper. We believe that it is excess fat in the diet that causes the problem, and people do not necessarily have to spend a lot to eat a diet that is nutritious and does not contain excessive fat. [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman is pulling a rather funny face. I shall show him two booklets that MAFF produced, which give guidelines for a balanced diet. Some of the eight guidelines are: enjoy your food; eat a variety of different foods"— such as pasta and rice, which are very low cost, and vegetables, although not only the most expensive ones— eat the right amount … eat plenty of foods rich in starch and fibre". If the hon. Gentleman requests more details, I should be very happy to send him, and any other hon. Member, a copy of our advice.

Mr. Fabricant

May I invite my hon. Friend to take a motoring tour with me around Europe? Behind our car we will have a refrigerated trailer that will contain apples from Kent, gooseberries from Worcestershire and best British beef from Staffordshire. When we get to Europe, we will stop off in the Champs Elysèes, or the Grand Place in Brussels, and have a picnic. The fine British food will be appreciated not only by us, because we shall invite some of the Europeans to try it too. They will see that British food is not only nutritious; it is a darn sight better than French horse or—come to that—French golden delicious apples.

Mrs. Browning

My hon. Friend is attempting to flag up, quite rightly, the excellent regional foods for which this country is rightly proud. I must say that, as I was sitting on the Front Bench when my hon. Friend extended to me his very generous invitation, I received a message from the Whips which said, "Don't you dare."