§ 18. Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD)If he will make a statement on the nutritional content of meals for young people. [182199]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Miss Melanie Johnson)The latest national diet and nutrition survey of young people aged 14 to 18 in 688 2000 showed that they consumed too much saturated fat, sugar and salt and too few fruit and vegetables.
§ Bob RussellI thank the Minister for her answer as far as it went, but will she have discussions with her colleagues in the Department for Education and Skills, as successive attacks on the school meal service by this Government and the previous one have seriously affected the health and well-being of children? Will she also ask her colleagues in the national health service why they are promoting unhealthy products through the NHS "Popzone", as it is not acceptable for the NHS to promote such products?
§ Miss JohnsonI am happy for the hon. Gentleman to send me anything about which he is discontented so that I can have a further look at it, but we are in regular discussions with the DFES about initiatives to encourage and enable children and their families to make healthier food choices, including national healthy school standards, the food in schools programme, the school fruit and vegetable scheme, the healthy living blueprint and healthy start. A range of initiatives is therefore under way to improve children's health as well as the food that they eat during and outside the school day.