Cancer (Hansard, 25 March 2003)

§ Ms Blears

The Government's 5-a-day programme, an NHS Plan commitment, aims to increase access to, and availability and consumption of, fruit and vegetables particularly in low income groups. The 5-a-day message includes the health benefits of eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables in helping to reduce the risk of some cancers. Resources bearing a new 5-a-day logo that explains the 5-a-day message and suggests ways of increasing fruit and vegetable intake are being distributed through primary care settings.

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Following successful piloting of the 5-a-day local community initiatives by the Department, the New is providing £10 million to support another 66 initiatives based in primary care trusts (PCTs) in the most deprived areas of England. The 5-a-day handbook will help staff in PCTs and other organisations to establish community-wide approaches to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. The New Opportunities Fund is also providing £42 million to support the National School Fruit Scheme, which will be fully operational by 2004, when it will entitle every child aged four to six in infant schools to a free piece of fruit each school day, as part of a national strategy to improve the diet of children. We are also working with industry to improve people's access to fruit and vegetables.

In addition, there are local initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, especially but not only in low income groups, in health action zones, sure start, healthy living centres and other PCTs.

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust	1,980	2,100	2,170	2,200	1,960
Medical and dental staff	130	140	140	140	160
Qualified nursing, midwifery and health 'visiting staff	700	750	780	770	600
All other non-medical staff	1,150	1,210	1,260	1,300	1,200

Notes:

Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

Source:

Department of Health non-medical work force census

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census