HC Deb 19 March 2001 vol 365 c93W
Mr. Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will(a) make a statement on the work of the inter-ministerial group to improve children's diet and activity and (b) list the initiatives it has undertaken; [152527]

(2) if he will list the members of the inter-ministerial group to improve children's diet and activity. [152526]

Yvette Cooper

[holding answer 6 March 2001]: The inter-ministerial group to improve children's diet and activity was set up to: examine the findings of the national diet and nutrition survey in the light of health implications review current Government activity and policies which influence the diets and physical activity levels of children and young people consider further opportunities for action to improve the diets and activity patterns of children and young people and improve their short and long-term health.

The group includes the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Employment, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Development Agency. Last year, the group discussed diet and nutrition and, in particular, the low levels of fruit and vegetable consumption among children. This led to the development of the national school fruit scheme whereby all 4 to 6-year-olds will receive a free piece of fruit every school day by 2004. The group has also influenced the development of the healthy schools programme and its increased emphasis on diet and nutrition.

The group will meet shortly to discuss physical activity and sport among children and young people. It will build on existing work on school sport, the national healthy school standard on physical activity and safe routes to school. It will address future opportunities for action in the light of the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor-General in his report "Tackling Obesity in England".