Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with key external stakeholders on the childhood obesity strategy; how frequently such discussions take place; and if she will make a statement.

The Department for Education is playing an integral role as part of the government’s aim to reduce England’s rate of childhood obesity significantly within the next ten years. We are working with other departments and agencies, including the Department of Health and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, to deliver the childhood obesity plan.

Our department supports the provision of nutritious food in schools to enable pupils to be well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and to concentrate and learn in school. Our school food standards regulate the food and drink provided during the school day, and foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods, are restricted.

Alongside these standards, we are leading several significant programmes of work, as outlined in ‘Childhood Obesity: A plan for action’. This includes doubling the Primary PE and Sport Premium, investing £10 million a year into school healthy breakfast clubs and introducing a new voluntary healthy rating scheme for primary schools. We will come forward with further information on each of these programmes soon.

The department has regular formal and informal conversations with a wide range of stakeholders on these programmes, including external organisations with an interest in school food, health, sport and physical activity. We look forward to continuing to work with these organisations as we deliver our programmes.