§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion c f overall funding to improve the nation's eating habits is allocated to improving children's diets. [101386]
§ Ms BlearsDuring the year 2002–03, 93.5 per cent, of the cost of Department of Health and Food Standards Agency (FSA) led initiatives to improve the nation's eating habits was allocated specifically to improving children's diets.
Funding for Department-led programmes aimed at improving children's diets totals £140.98 million, including the National School Fruit Scheme, with funding from the New Opportunities Fund, Food in Schools, in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills, Welfare Foods and support for breastfeeding. The FSA has provided funding of £0.58 million as part of its nutrition action plan to support initiatives aimed at improving the diet and nutrition of children.
659WFunding not specific to children totals £9.83 million, including five-a-day community initiatives, with funding from the New Opportunities Fund, other FSA activities and grants to charities.
In addition to the above, local nutrition initiatives are funded through health action zones, sure start, healthy living centres and through general funding allocations to health authorities and primary care trusts, on which information is not collected centrally.