HC Deb 20 January 2004 vol 416 cc1160-1W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on plans to make fruit available to school pupils. [148772]

Angela Smith

A pilot Fresh Fruit in Schools Scheme was launched in Northern Ireland in October 2002. It currently provides a free piece of fruit daily to over 4,800 Primary 1 and 2 children in 87 primary schools within Health Action Zone areas. An initial evaluation of the scheme has recently been completed and consideration is currently being given to extending the scheme to include a larger number of children.