§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's assessment of the weekly cost, in real cash terms, of maintaining a healthy diet; how many(a) families on low income with children under five years and (b) pensioners on low incomes, fall below deficiency levels for essential nutrients; and if he will subdivide these figures by region.
§ Mr. BurtThere is no single cost of a healthy diet. Diets can be constructed in a variety of ways and individual preferences vary. Information about nutrient deficiency in specific population groups is not available, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food national food survey does indicate that in general the diets of people in all income groups contain adequate levels of most nutrients but rather more fat and less fibre than the latest dietary recommendations. The welfare foods scheme continues to provide a nutritional safeguard for children under five in families with income support.