§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken in the last two years in(a) the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, (b) Inner London and (c) Greater London to reduce obesity; and if he will make a statement. [128774]
§ Mr. HuttonLocal strategies on reducing obesity are being developed as part of the national service framework for coronary heart disease and national service framework for diabetes. These programmes include a range of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy eating and increasing levels of physical activity. As part of the national school fruit scheme, over 300,000 children in London are receiving a piece of free fruit every school day. 32 schools in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames (primary and secondary) are part of the healthy schools scheme (launched nationally in 1999 as the national healthy school standard). In addition Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust has delivered two healthy eating support programmes to tackle obesity and related diseases.
Ongoing initiatives have a role in obesity prevention including the reform of the welfare food scheme, various school based initiatives such as the national school fruit scheme, the five-a-day community programme and the local exercise action pilots.
Activity to tackle obesity in London is being delivered by a wide range of organisations and initiatives through a variety of funding sources, examples of these are:
approximately 15 healthy living centres situated within communities with high levels of deprivation and health needs, have a focus on tackling obesity;nine five-a-day projects in London have been established in the most 20 per cent. deprived of primary care trusts;the national school fruit scheme has 90 per cent. coverage in London in all local education authority maintained primary and infant schools;a school sport co-ordinators programme that aims to promote physical activity in out of school hours learning is also in place across London.