§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will(a) make a statement on the Government's proposals to encourage healthy eating among children and (b) ensure that the Government's efforts are co-ordinated across the United Kingdom with the devolved administrations. [129928]
§ Yvette CooperAs part of the strategy to tackle the issues raised in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of 4–18 year olds, which we published in June, we have set up a cross-Government working group on improving children's diet and physical activity in England. It involves Health and Education Ministers, the chair of the Food Standards Agency and the chair of the Health Development Agency. Already, through the Healthy Schools Programme, we are encouraging schools to present consistent, informed messages about healthy eating and food on offer from canteens, vending machines and tuck shops. Additionally we have recently announced that we will be spending £2 million this year to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among school aged children. Any further proposals to improve children's diet will be included in the National Plan for the National Health Service which is due to be announced later this month.
As public health is a devolved topic, any proposals in this area for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the devolved administrations who may develop dietary policy and initiatives which best meet their own particular needs. However, I intend to keep in close contact with my ministerial counterparts in the other UK countries and fully explore the opportunities for co-ordination in this area.
618Wreached for National Health Service staff on national payscales will give the lowest paid staff in the NHS proportionately more pay—taking the lowest adult hourly rate to over £4 per hour.