§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures his Department has taken to promote healthy eating in schools; and if he will list the funding commitment for each measure. [141784]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe National Healthy Schools programme, jointly sponsored by Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department of Health (DoH), through funding of £5.7 million since 2000, promotes healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. The National Healthy School Standard (NHSS) promotes a whole school approach to health. Healthy eating is one of the eight themes of the NHSS. Schools demonstrate that the taught curriculum complements informed messages about healthy eating, for example, food on offer in vending machines and tuck shops. Schools will supply, promote and monitor healthier food at lunch and break times and in any breakfast clubs where they are provided. Over 14,000 schools are taking part in the healthy schools programme and over 8,000 schools are working 'intensively' to achieve the NHSS.
Additionally, we are: working with the Food Standards Agency and Ofsted to examine aspects of school meals and good practice in food and nutrition (DfES contribution—£330,000); working with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on promoting healthy lifestyles through greater engagement with growing and farming and local food procurement (in excess of £720,000 between March 2002—March 2004); providing a top up to the EU school milk subsidy scheme (£0.5 million annually from January 2001); on a range of other education, food and health interests on improving teaching and learning about healthy eating for pupils of all ages (exact figures not available, but in excess of £0.5 million).