Written question asked by Bob Laxton (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the iron intake of children to prevent childhood anaemia; and what assessment he has made of the incidence of childhood anaemia in the last 20 years. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage the iron intake of children to prevent childhood anaemia; and what assessment he has made of the incidence of childhood anaemia in the last 20 years. [202230] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government are committed to improve children's diet and health and action will be taken forward through the Government's recently published White Paper, "Choosing Health". Most people are able to meet their nutritional needs by eating a balanced, varied diet, including plenty of fruit and vegetables. Vulnerable children from families in receipt of the Welfare Food Scheme are provided with supplements including vitamin A, C and D. Vitamin C in particular aids the absorption of iron from the diet. Iron supplements may also be prescribed to children with iron deficiency anaemia that does not improve with appropriate dietary advice. The Department and the Foods Standards Agency undertake regular surveys to monitor the diet and health of children. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2000 showed that, according to the World Health Organisation criteria based on blood haemoglobin levels, three per cent., of boys aged four to six years were anaemic, compared to one per cent., for those aged seven to eighteen years. For girls, eight per cent. of those aged four to six years, four per cent. aged seven to ten years and nine per cent. aged 15-18 years were anaemic.

Secondary information