(DH) Government responds to Archer Inquiry

The Government today responded to the independent inquiry into contaminated blood supplies in the 1970s and 1980s.

In a Written Ministerial Statement, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo set out the Government's response to the Archer Inquiry into individuals infected by HIV and hepatitis C through infected NHS blood and blood products.

The response includes:

* there will be a significant increase in annual payments to £12,800 for individuals infected with HIV, in addition to the £45 million already given out in lump sums and discretionary payments;

* further support for the Haemophilia Society of £100,000 per year for the next five years; and

* a commitment to review the financial relief for individuals affected by hepatitis C in five years.

Tough measures are already in place to prevent similar events happening in the future. To ensure all patients with bleeding disorders who may have been infected have been identified, a look back exercise will be undertaken.

Minister for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo said:

"I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to all those who suffered in this tragic episode. Sadly, it was not possible to effectively test for these viruses in the 1970s and early 80s and we deeply regret that these events occurred following NHS treatment.

"Steps to safeguard blood products against HIV and hepatitis C have been in place since 1985. Every reasonable step to minimise risks from blood transfusion has been taken and robust screening measures are in place to protect patients.

"In addition to the £150 million already given out in lump sums and discretionary payments to those infected with HIV and hepatitis C, financial help for those infected with HIV will rise to £12,800 per year."

The full response to Lord Archer's report has been placed in the Library of the House.

In keeping with the Government's commitment to make information available that relates to this period, the remaining 468 relevant documents have been placed on the Department of Health website:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/FreedomOfInformation/Freedomofinformationpublicationschemefeedback/FOIreleases/DH_076693

(DH) Change4Life survey says: Too many children not getting enough exercise

Results from a massive survey of Change4Life families show that almost three quarters (72 per cent) of their children are not getting 60 minutes of daily activity outside of school. The campaign's new TV ad, which launches today, urges families get up and about more in an effort to cut levels of obesity.

The 'How Are The Kids Survey', launched in January, is the biggest national survey of children's diet and activity levels, and received more than 260,000 responses from families across England.

The survey of change4life families also found that 45 per cent of their kids watched TV or played non-active video games before school, and only 22 per cent did something active after their evening meal.

Since the survey began, families have been sent tailor made support packs to help them make small but important changes to their daily routines. A new Change4Life advert focusing on getting families more active, hits screens today and will add encouragement to that support.

The new advert responds to the need for families to get more physical activity into their daily routines - to make sure that the energy in, is matched by the energy out.

The ad features the Change4Life family as they realise that 'sitting around doing nothing' can lead to a build up of fat in their bodies that can cause diseases such as type two diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

The family find lots of fun ways to get their kids 60 active minutes - playing in the park, walking to school and playing with active computer games where kids need to jump and dance around.

Dawn Primarolo, Minister for Public Health said:

"Our survey shows that kids just aren't getting up and about as much as they should. If we're going to cut obesity levels our children need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.

"Families up and down the country are getting tailor made action plans from Change4Life, and our new ads will give additional encouragement to help families feel the difference.

"By eating better and moving more, we can all live longer and healthier lives. With continued support from Change4Life this can be a reality for every family in England."

(DH) Restaurants and catering companies bring in calories on menus

Eighteen major catering companies, including many high street brands, will introduce calorie information on their menus for the first time.

The list of trailblazers, announced today by Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo and the Food Standards Agency will start displaying calorie information from the end of April. The list includes workplace caterers, sit down and quick-service restaurants, theme parks and leisure attractions, pub restaurants, cafes and sandwich chains. This will benefit individuals and families who are trying to choose a healthier diet.

Companies involved include a number of well-known high street names and several major contract caterers:

* Burger King
* Compass Group UK and Ireland - in a number of Royal Mail staff restaurants
* The Co-operative Expresso cafes
* ISS Mediclean - in a number of London hospital restaurants
* KFC
* Marks & Spencer Cafes
* Chessington World of Adventures theme park, operated by Merlin Entertainments
* Harvester restaurants and Scream pubs, operated by Mitchells & Butlers
* Pizza Hut
* Pret A Manger
* Sainsbury's Cafes
* Sodexo - in a number of client restaurants in its corporate and defence sectors
* Subway
* Tesco staff restaurants
* Unilever staff restaurants (in partnership with Sodexo)
* Waitrose Cafes
* Wimpy
* 7 Day Catering - in college restaurants

By June, more than 450 food outlets across the country will have introduced calorie information - some of these will be on a pilot basis. Each company has agreed to:

* display calorie information for most food and drink they serve;
* print calorie information on menu boards, paper menus or on the edge of shelves; and
* ensure the information is clear and easily visible at the point where people choose their food.

Making calorie information available at the point of choice is the first and simplest step, which will lead to more clarity for people when eating out.

Dawn Primarolo, Minister for Public Health said:

"We know that people want to be able to see how many calories are in the food and drink they order when they eat out.

"I want to see more catering companies join this ground breaking first group to help their customers make healthier choices."

Tim Smith, chief executive of the Food Standards Agency said:

"We are pleased that such a diverse range of companies has agreed to work with us by introducing calorie labelling at the crucial point where their customers make a decision about what to eat.

"Our aim is to ensure that consumers have better information so they can make informed choices to improve their diet when eating out, whether that is a snack on the go, a meal in a staff restaurant or at a table being served by a waiter."

Independent research will assess how easily customers understand and use the system and gather feedback from the restaurants themselves to look at practical issues and the costs involved in providing the information. Gathering this data will inform the next steps for a wider rollout of calorie labelling on menus.

Research published by the Food Standards Agency last year showed that consumers would welcome simple, clear and visible nutrition information when eating out. This research followed a survey carried out by the Food Standards Agency in June 2008, which suggested that 85 per cent of consumers agreed that restaurants, pubs and cafes have a responsibility to make clear what is in the food they serve. More than 80 per cent of respondents said that nutrition information would be most useful if provided at the point they choose to order food, such as on menus or menu boards.

The names of the 18 companies introducing calorie information on their menus are published today in the first annual report of the Government's obesity strategy 'Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives - One Year On'. The report sets out the Government's efforts to tackle obesity over the last year and plans going forward.

Speaking about the publication, Dawn Primarolo said:

"Today's report builds on the bold ambition we set out in our obesity strategy 'Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives' last year.

"It reveals we've made a good start - there are early signs that we may be halting the rise in childhood obesity. But there's still more to do and this report highlights the importance of working to tackle obesity in adults too."

Children's Minister Delyth Morgan said:

"We are all too aware of the health risks associated with adult obesity, which it why it is vital we act to prevent children, the adults of tomorrow, becoming obese. We must continue to help children lead healthy, active lifestyles and develop good eating habits which they can take into their adult lives. This is a complex challenge but we've made a great start with a revolution in the quality of school meals and the success of the PE and sport strategy, which means more children are playing sports at school than ever before.

"The report today outlines how we plan to go further. We are giving parents personal advice on how to prevent their children becoming obese through the Change4Life campaign, extending the mandatory nutritional standards to secondary and special schools this September and introducing an enhanced Healthy Schools programme to help schools do more to promote healthy habits. The new and refurbished play areas that are opening around the country will increase children's opportunities to be active outside home and school."