§ 21. Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the relationship between poverty and diet and exercise. [122882]
§ Yvette CooperThe Government fully recognise the links between social deprivation, poor diet and physical inactivity. The Acheson report commissioned by the Government highlighted the phenomenon of food poverty as a very important consideration within public health. The link is confirmed by the recently published National Diet and Nutritional Survey for young people. This shows that, for example, among manual social groups only 22 per cent. of boys consume fruit compared with 39 per cent. in non-manual classes. A similar picture also emerges in the case of girls in manual classes, with only 29 per cent. consuming fruit compared to 43 per cent. among their non-manual counterparts.
The social class patterns for physical activity are less clear. Lower levels of leisure time exercise seem balanced by more active jobs for those on the lowest incomes. Based on these and other indicators like the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for young people, we are examining these issues as part of the development of the National Plan.