HC Deb 08 March 1988 vol 129 cc170-1W
89. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the current work of the Chief Medical Officer's committee on food policy.

Mrs. Currie

The work currently being undertaken by the Chief Medical Officer's Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy through its panels, working groups and sub-committees includesa continuing review of matters relating to infant and child nutrition, with particular reference to ways of promoting breastfeeding; as recommended in the COMA report "Present day practice in Infant Feeding: Third Report" published in February 1988; a continuing review of the relationship between diet and cardiovascular disease; as recommended in the COMA report on "Diet and Cardiovascular Disease" published in 1984; a study of the rate of growth and achieved height of primary schoolchildren aged 5 to 11, with special reference to inner city and ethnic minority groups; special consideration of the nutritional status of children in families in "bed and breakfast" accommodation; review of the recommended daily amounts for energy and nutrients, embracing protein, vitamins, minerals, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fibre; this panel was set up on 28 September 1987; the relationships, if any, between dietary sugars and disease; this panel was set up on 19 March 1987; completion of detailed analysis of data from the 1984 survey of schoolchildren's diets; analysis of the data from the 1986–87 survey of adult nutritional status and diets, in collaboration with MAFF and OPCS; preparation of the third report of the sub-committee on nutritional surveillance, a summary of which is expected shortly.

We are most grateful to all the members of COMA for their efforts.