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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme; and if he will make a statement; [199456] (2) what assessment he has made of the Five-a-Day programme. [199460] Miss Melanie Johnson: A NOP World survey of the national school fruit scheme was published in October 2003. The NOP World survey found that over a quarter of children and their families were eating more fruit at home after joining the scheme, rising to nearly a third in social class C2DE. In addition, nearly half of all parents thought the scheme has made them more aware of the importance of fruit for a healthy diet. A full evaluation report of the impact of the school fruit and vegetable scheme on children's diet from the Big Lottery Fund will be published in 2005. A full evaluation of the 5 A DAY community initiatives will be completed by December 2005. Evaluation of the five pilot community initiatives reported an increased intake of one portion per day among those groups with the lowest intakes. The 5 A DAY communications programme aims to influence attitudes towards awareness of 5 A DAY, which are monitored by an annual consumer tracking study commissioned by the Department, next due to be carried out this month. It is also monitored by the Food Standards Agency's consumer attitudes survey, which reported an increase in awareness of the 5 A DAY message from 52 per cent., in 2002 to 59 per cent., in 2003. Results for 2004 are due soon.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c981W; 199456;199460

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Children Assessments Fruit Nutrition Schools School fruit and vegetable scheme Vegetables

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk