§ Mr. CouchmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he has given the food industry and educators with regard to the healthy eating campaign running alongside the HEA publication "Enjoy Healthy Eating"; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will issue additional advice to the food industry and educators as to the role they can play in working towards a healthier nation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellWhen my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched the COMA report on dietary reference values in July, he asked the Health Education Authority to take the lead in developing a healthy eating campaign. The booklet "Enjoy Healthy Eating", which was published on 5 November, a copy of which is available in the Library, represents the start of that campaign. Further nutrition education resources for both professionals and the public are being developed.
So far as the food industry is concerned, the Government maintain a constructive dialogue with it on issues such as food labelling and the production and marketing of healthy choices in food supplies.
In the context of the Green Paper "The Health of the Nation", the responses of those representing the food industry have given a positive welcome to the initiative and have signalled their intention to play a full and constructive role.