Edward Timpson MP

Minister for Children and Families

Department for Education

Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London SW1P 3BT

Date: February 20^th 2013 

Dear Edward,

I am writing to you in relation to the Early Day Motion 54 (copy overleaf) and the current exemption of free schools and academies from mandatory food standards.

I corresponded with your predecessor about this last year (your ref 2012/0020845/POST) and would like to know what progress has been made, especially in relation to the results of the School Food Trust survey that is mentioned.

As I understand it, the survey suggests that whilst many Academies do adhere to healthy schools guidelines, there are a worrying number who ignore the recommendations.

Out of the 100 Academies surveyed by the School Food Trust, 89 were found to be selling items on the banned lists for state maintained schools.

This highlights the importance of regulation and, in the week during which the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has warned that the epidemic of obesity is the greatest public health crisis facing the UK, I would urge you to require academies and free schools to adhere to the national standards for school food.

If implemented, the one million children now attending these schools could benefit from a policy that costs the Government nothing and that would help protect them from the growing problem of childhood obesity.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas MP, Brighton Pavilion

 To read the Minister's response click here.