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time than are men and women in unskilled manual groups. So the people who are eating the wrong foods are likely to be doing nothing about it in terms of taking exercise.In socio-economic groups A and B, 15 per cent. said in a recent survey that they had taken no exercise the previous week, compared with 35 per cent. in group E, who similarly said that they had taken no exercise. Nearly twice as many people in socio-economic groups A and B went running or jogging than those in C2, D and E groups. Younger people said that they exercised to feel fitter. Older people said that they exercised for health reasons. In either case, it was predominately the people who were already eating more sensibly who were taking more exercise, rather than those who were taking risks with their diets or life styles.
We must also consider the younger section of the population, those at school eating school meals. The national forum for CHD prevention has demanded national nutritional standards, and I support its call. School meals account for a third of children's energy intake, and 45 per cent. of that comes from fat, well above the levels recommended by the experts to whom we turn for advice.
Two years ago the Government introduced the FEAST--fun eating at school today--campaign, which was designed to promote healthy eating and attract as many pupils as possible to eat healthy, nutritious school meals.
The problem with a debate such as this--we are grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst for initiating it--is that it is answered by a Health Minister, and we are grateful for her presence. But we see no sign of Ministers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or from the Department of Education and Science, both of which have a key role in the promotion of healthy living. I hope that that message will be passed to those Departments, although I welcome on the Front Bench my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Department ; the Home Office is always anxious to see that we are looked after in every possible way.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. John Patten) : I am obliged to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Coombs : It is essential to check what youngsters at school are eating and to make sure that they do not eat the wrong foods, and I hope that the message that was given to me last year by the former Under- Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher)--that the Government were anxious to see local authorities taking up the chance to participate in the FEAST campaign--means that that campaign continues and has the Government's support.
With regard to home economics and health education, it is crucial that the new national curriculum should take into account the need to teach children how to look after themselves when they grow older and have responsibility for themselves and their children. Having looked at the national curriculum guidelines, I am not entirely satisfied that the emphasis is sufficiently clearly placed on the need for healthy eating and cooking with unsaturated fats. I urge my hon. Friend the Minister to pass on the message to the Department of Education and Science about the need for action on that.
I congratulate the Government on what they have achieved so far. I hope that nothing that I have said in the past 20 minutes or so gives the impression that I do not
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welcome the progress that has been made. I believe, in concert with large numbers of people outside the House, that we still have a great deal to do to beat coronary heart disease. Other countries have tackled the problem and produced major reductions in the number of people suffering from CHD.Last year, the Public Accounts Committee said :
"We are also concerned at the varying levels of local commitment to the heart disease prevention programme in England, and by the slowness of the Department of Health in obtaining essential monetary information from health authorities."
We must continue to monitor the work of local health authorities in this matter because some of them are doing a great deal more than others. I pay tribute to my health authority in Swindon, which is well advanced. Not all the others have managed to achieve the same amount of progress in the past three years.
Mrs. Teresa Gorman (Billericay) : Will my hon. Friend give way?
Mr. Coombs : I shall stop in a moment, if my hon. Friend will allow me.
I welcome the large number of projects related to looking after the heart that are being undertaken, particularly the Allied Dunbar national fitness survey. That company, which is located in my constituency, has taken an important lead.
In relation to food and its impact on health, I hope that the Houston initiative on the common agricultural policy of the European Community will be given every encouragement to succeed--principally and ideally through the end of the CAP. It is ludicrous that we are spending 800 million ecu on community support for the tobacco industry in Europe, when tobacco is a killer drug.
The CAP does not mention food or consumers, only farmers. We must remember that there are more consumers in every constituency in Europe than there are farmers. They are the people who will count in the future. We need to promote greater consumer confidence in food safety. I welcome the National Farmers Union suggestion of an independent food assessment and monitoring body ; it deserves careful consideration. I urge my hon. Friend the Minister to be unremitting in her efforts to secure more money from Treasury Ministers to enable the prevention of coronary heart disease to continue in the future, with an ever greater determination to beat that dreadful disease. 2.28 pm
Mr. Sims : With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I shall speak again.
I thank all those who have spoken in the debate. It has been time well spent. I appreciated the kind comments about my initiative in tabling the motion. I am sorry that our proceedings were interrupted by a statement over which we had no control, which has precluded two or three of my hon. Friends who were anxious to contribute to the debate from doing so. That is unfortunate, but that is how things happen in Parliament, and we have to take the rough with the smooth. I hesitate to refer specifically to any of the speeches because all of them either picked up points that I had touched on or elaborated on others which simply due to lack of time, I had been unable to mention. I hope that the debate has brought home to hon. Members and the country the importance of preventive medicine and what
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we can do to promote our good health. I particularly appreciated the comprehensive reply by my hon. Friend the Minister, who covered a great deal of ground in a relatively short time. It will be interesting to hear whether she has more to tell us about the extraordinarily fishy speech of my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel).I am grateful to all hon. Members who have supported me in the debate and I hope that the message that I was endeavouring to put across--that individuals have responsibility for their own health, and that the Government have a responsibility to take measures to promote good health and disseminate information--has got through to the House and to the country. I am grateful for the opportunity to have had this debate.
It being half-past Two o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.
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Orders of the Day
Private Members' Bills
CONSUMER GUARANTEES BILL
Order read for consideration of Lords amendments.
Consideration of Lords amendments deferred till Friday 19 October.
ROAD TRAFFIC (TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS) BILL
Order read for further consideration of Lords amendments [6 July].
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Paul Dean) : Second Reading what day? No day named.
SEXUAL OFFENCES BILL
Order read for resuming adjourned debate on Third Reading [6 July].
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Second Reading what day? No day named.
Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark and Bermondsey) : On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Because the same issue will arise several times, can you tell us which dates if any are available, given that there appears to be some confusion about which days can be named?
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I am glad that the hon. Gentleman asked that, because it might help our proceedings. The answer is that there is no further time available in this Session for private Members' Bills.
PROTECTION OF BADGER SETTS BILL
Order read for consideration (as amended in the Standing Committee).
Consideration deferred till Friday 19 October.
Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West) : On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. It appears that everyone is now saying that no one objected --
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Order. There was an objection.
Mr. Ken Livingstone (Brent, East) : On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I think I saw--
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL (ROAD TRANSPORT) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Second Reading what day? No day named.
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PENSIONERS' TELEVISION LICENCES BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
BAN OF IMPORTS (CHILD LABOUR) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
FORMER CABINET MINISTERS(INTERESTS) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
TRADE UNION ACT 1984 (AMENDMENT)(No. 2) BILL Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
SAFETY IN CHILDREN'SPLAYGROUNDS BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
COMMUNITY CHARGE (LANDLORDAND TENANT) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
COMPUTERS (COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS BILL
Order for Second Reading read.--[Queen's consent, on behalf of the Crown, signified.]
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
HUMAN RIGHTS BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
MISUSE OF DRUGS BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
WRITTEN CONSTITUTION BILL
Order for Second Reading read.--[Queen's consent, on behalf of the Crown, signified.]
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
FUEL AND ENERGY PROVISION BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
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POLL TAX (ABOLITION) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
LOCAL AUTHORITY PLAYING FIELDS BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
CONTROL OF TOXIC WASTE RESIDUES BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
DRUG TESTING (SCHOOLS) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTORAL REFORM BILL [LORDS] Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
FORMER MINISTERS (INTERESTS) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL (PROTECTION OF GREENFIELD SITES) BILL Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
BEACHES AND COASTLINE (REGULATION) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
SAFEGUARDS FOR RESIDENTS IN REGISTERED HOMES BILL Order for Second Reading read.
Second Reading deferred till Friday 19 October.
ADOPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Not moved.
DOGS BILL
Order for Second Reading read.
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