Written Question · S3W-26230 · Session 3
What progress has been made to meet the SNP manifesto pledge to ensure that all primary school children receive free fruit and to provide f…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to meet the SNP manifesto pledge to ensure that all primary school children receive free fruit and to provide free fruit for pregnant women and pre-school children using the model of market-led pregnancy cards from the major supermarkets.
The answer
The majority of local authorities have already extended their free school fruit scheme beyond P1 and P2 pupils and we are currently exploring the possibility of securing funding for 2010-11 from the EU under the EU school fruit scheme to extend provision of free school fruit to further year groups.
In addition, in June 2008 we published Healthy Eating Active Living “ An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity. This included a commitment to broaden out the pledge to provide free fruit to pregnant women and pre-school children using the model of market-led pregnancy cards from the major supermarkets, to encompass maternal and infant nutrition generally and not limited to specific models.
In September 2008, we also announced support of £19 million available to NHS health boards over the period 2008-11 to improve the nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas. The broad criteria within which NHS boards have been asked to work include increasing uptake of the Healthy Start scheme, to ensure that everyone who is eligible to claim vouchers to exchange for fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and infant formula does so; supporting work on increasing breastfeeding rates, and investing in training for health professionals. Years 1 and 2 of that funding have already been allocated to NHS boards. Details of the allocation were outlined in CEL 36(2008) Nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas which can be found at:
http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2008_36.pdf.
In addition, in June 2008 we published Healthy Eating Active Living “ An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity. This included a commitment to broaden out the pledge to provide free fruit to pregnant women and pre-school children using the model of market-led pregnancy cards from the major supermarkets, to encompass maternal and infant nutrition generally and not limited to specific models.
In September 2008, we also announced support of £19 million available to NHS health boards over the period 2008-11 to improve the nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas. The broad criteria within which NHS boards have been asked to work include increasing uptake of the Healthy Start scheme, to ensure that everyone who is eligible to claim vouchers to exchange for fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and infant formula does so; supporting work on increasing breastfeeding rates, and investing in training for health professionals. Years 1 and 2 of that funding have already been allocated to NHS boards. Details of the allocation were outlined in CEL 36(2008) Nutrition of women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children under five in disadvantaged areas which can be found at:
http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2008_36.pdf.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-26230 by reference.