HC Deb 02 June 1998 vol 313 cc166-8
11. Mrs. Helen Brinton (Peterborough)

What action he is taking to promote the Government programme of health in schools. [42186]

The Minister for Public Health (Ms Tessa Jowell)

The Minister for School Standards and I launched the cross-Government healthy schools initiative on 14 May 1998. We are providing £2 million in this financial year—£1 million from health and £1 million from education.

The aim of the healthy schools initiative is to recognise the vital role played by schools in improving the health of pupils and teachers alike. A key element in achieving that objective will be fostering joint working between health and education authorities. Accordingly, I can announce today the setting up of eight health education partnerships which will each receive £150,000 from the initiative. They are in Cornwall, Doncaster, Durham, Hounslow, Manchester, Norfolk, North Staffordshire and West Sussex.

These pilots reflect a range of existing practice. They also reflect a range of areas. The lessons learned will be used to inform the development of a national healthy school award. It is our intention that every school should become a healthy school. Deprivation exists in both rural and urban areas, and is the prime cause of inequality in the health of our children. [HON. MEMBERS: "Come on!"] Opposition Members—

Madam Speaker

Order. Questions and answers have been inordinately long today. I am very disappointed that we are only at question 11; we should be at question 17. I hope that Back Benchers and Front Benchers will put their questions speedily and that Ministers will reply speedily. There is a great deal of frustration on the Back Benches, and it is most unfair on Back Benchers whose questions are not called.

Ms Jowell

The programme will be a major step in tackling inequality in childhood.

Mrs. Brinton

I look forward to schools in my constituency taking part in the initiative that my hon. Friend described. Can she give me more details about how schools are to be healthy not only for children but for caretakers, dinner ladies, ancillary staff and teachers? Do we not want whole healthy schools? Will she show us how the Government will get stuck in, unlike the Opposition?

Ms Jowell

As I made clear, the initiative is an essential step in tackling health inequality in childhood, which so often affects children's ability to learn. However, healthy children also need to be taught by healthy teachers—and other members of the school staff. Investment in school staff is the best way of driving up children's educational achievement.

Mr. Ian Taylor (Esher and Walton)

Given that the Minister said that she was to issue a pamphlet stating that life begins at 40, what message does that give to schools about health? Does she propose to use modern technology in the initiative? Is she co-operating with the information technology industry, which offers excellent facilities such as video conferencing and other means of bringing health education into schools?

Ms Jowell

The answer is yes. Later this year we shall announce a new website to allow schools and children to access information about health.

Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire)

Will the programme deal with pollution from industry as it affects children in schools? In my constituency, Sarp UK Ltd. caused acid clouds to escape over the Killimarsh junior school on 14 and 20 May. The school was not occupied at the time, but that could have been disastrous, as teachers and children could have been trapped in the school. We must deal with the question whether schools or the processors that create the problem should be moved.

Ms Jowell

As part of the healthy schools initiative, we recognise that local circumstances such as those in the case cited by my hon. Friend should be taken into account. That is another illustration of my contention that we will drive up health standards only by co-operation across Government and between local education authorities and local authorities.

Mr. David Tredinnick (Bosworth)

Will the new health education partnerships consider the issue of healthy school diets? Does the Minister accept that additives in food are often a factor in disruptive behaviour? Will she take the matter seriously?

Ms Jowell

Schools will certainly be encouraged to attend to healthy eating and diet.