This government is stuck in the crisis zone on obesity

12 Dec 2012
Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister, says the government is ‘stuck in the crisis zone’ after the release of National Child Measurement Programme statistics.

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s shadow public health minister, said:

 ‘These figures show children in year 6 paying the cost of this government’s total lack of interest in this important issue.  The government is stuck in the crisis zone, and yet all they have planned is more half-baked corporate responsibility schemes.  We’re seeing dinner ladies axed in their thousands, healthy school meals on their way out, and the government has even scrapped its public health committee.

 ‘Campaigners like Jamie Oliver have said this government is a disaster for children’s health. But it’s made worse because we’re seeing a nutritional recession, with rising food prices and shrinking incomes driving up consumption of fatty foods and reducing the amount of fruit and vegetables we buy.’

‘Action on obesity needs to include local authorities using their powers to control the numbers of fast-food shops, particularly around schools. We must also see much more work to maintain nutritional standards, and to educate young people about nutrition and cooking basic foods.’

--ENDS—

For more information please call Gabe Trodd 0207 219 4426 

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