§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of 4 to 7-year-olds are entitled to participate in the national school fruit scheme; and when he expects this scheme to be in place for all children. [133910]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe national school fruit scheme will entitle every child aged four to six in local education authority schools to a free piece of fruit each school day. Children aged seven or three will also receive fruit where they share classes with children aged six or four. Region-wide pilots for the scheme have been introduced so far in four of the nine English regions, with funding from the New Opportunities Fund, and nearly half of all eligible children in England are in schools that are participating in the scheme. We are examining the practicalities of the scheme through these pilots before rolling it out nationally next year.