Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to promote the health benefits of eating more fish and incorporating the principles of the Seafood 2040 Strategy into the NHS, care homes, nursing homes and home care.

The Government recommends eating at least two portions of fish a week, including a portion of oily fish. This recommendation is promoted through a variety of communications including the national healthy eating model the Eatwell Guide, Public Health England’s (PHE’s) catering guidance (including for older adults in residential care), and the NHS Choices website.

PHE, together with representatives from the Department, the National Health Service, the Seafish Industry Authority and others, are part of the ‘Plan for the Public Procurement of Food Implementation Taskforce’ that has been established by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Encouraging and promoting consumption of fish is a component of this plan through implementation of the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services.