Examination of Witnesses (Questions 1194-1199)
15 JANUARY 2004
MR CALLTON
YOUNG, MR
ANDREW WADGE,
MR TOM
MURRAY AND
MS ROSEMARY
HIGNETT
Q1194 Chairman: Colleagues, can I welcome
you to this meeting of the Committee and apologise to our witnesses
for the slight delay in starting. Can I express our thanks to
you for being willing to come before us to answer questions on
the issue of obesity. Could I ask you briefly each to introduce
yourselves to the Committee, starting with you, Mr Young?
Mr Young: Callton Young, Head
of the Food and Drink Industry Division at Defra.
Mrs Hignett: I am Rosemary Hignett,
Head of Food Labelling and Standards Division at the Food Standards
Agency.
Mr Wadge: I am Andrew Wadge, Director
of Food Safety at the Food Standards Agency.
Mr Murray: Tom Murray, Head of
Nutrition Division at the Food Standards Agency.
Chairman: Can I just begin by saying
to Mr Young obviously we are glad that you have been able to join
us today. I think you are aware that we are particularly interested
in the CAP aspects of this issue. It may be that other than questions
around that area we are more concerned with the other witnesses
than yourself. I want to ask Mr Austin to come in early on on
you area of responsibility and it may be then that there are not
many other questions but if you feel you wish to come in on some
of the areas that we touch on later in this session we will be
very happy for you to do so.
Q1195 John Austin: I think in our earlier
evidence when we were looking at obesity in relation to the United
States we saw considerable evidence of the massive subsidy which
caused over-production of corn syrup and massive surpluses and
the only thing to do with it was stick it in fizzy drinks and
pour it down people's throats. Also the subsidy arrangements on
the imports of palm oil which led to it being extensively used
in processed foods. Are we not now seeing a similar influence
on diet as a result of the Common Agricultural Policy, a policy
which pays to destroy totally healthy fruit and vegetables, which
gives heavy subsidies to high fat content food, which subsidises
the tobacco industry? Is there not a very real case for a review
of the Common Agricultural Policy and its impact on health and
diet?
Mr Young: First of all, I should
make clear that I was not aware of the focus on CAP which is why
I was shaking my head. I have not come briefed to talk on that
aspect. To answer your question, yes, the CAP does have a role
to play in my view in terms of the health and nutrition agenda.
The price of food is very clearly linked to what people buy and
the extent to which it is subsidised must have a feedback down
the chain to the consumer.
Q1196 John Austin: Do you think that
the promotion of healthier food should be a key part of the Common
Agricultural Policy?
Mr Young: I think it has to be
a part of the Common Agricultural Policy. In terms of approaching
these things;- Brussels is clearly now working on the nutrition
agenda. It is a key part of the Government policy and we have
to look at these things holistically. It would not make a lot
of sense to try and tackle obesity if one strand which has an
impact on obesity is ignored. We have to look at all aspects.
Q1197 John Austin: Can I ask you about
the role of Defra because Defra is not directly assigned responsibility
for health and nutrition. Would I be right in saying that your
main purpose is the promotion of the food industry and its marketing
schemes and profits?
Mr Young: Sorry, can you repeat
that please, I did not hear it?
Q1198 John Austin: I understand that
Defra is not specifically assigned the responsibility for health
and nutrition, the major role in Defra appears to be promotion
of the food industry and marketing schemes and profits.
Mr Young: In terms of my division's
role vis a" vis the food industry, we act as sponsor
for that industry. It is a two way facing role really where we
are the voice of the industry within Government so we make sure
that industry's concerns are heard in the development of Government
policy.
Q1199 John Austin: You are the voice
of industry within Government?
Mr Young: In a sense. As I said,
there are two sides to this.
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