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Press Release

PAT WELCOMES JUNK FOOD BAN

28 September 2005

The Government's proposed ban on junk food in schools, which is due to be announced by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly today (28 September 2005), has been welcomed by the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT).

PAT General Secretary Jean Gemmell said: "A good diet and good health go hand in hand. We welcome this as an important step to promote healthy eating. Schools can - and many already do - play an important part in encouraging pupils to eat more healthily.

"However, the promotion of healthy eating has to start in the home, with encouragement from the Government through the media. Children eat a lot more meals at home and elsewhere than they do at school. Pupils can also buy junk food on the way to school so we would like to see restrictions on the promotion of junk foods to children.

“Exercise plays a key role too. Over the past 20 years, the proportion of children travelling to school by car has almost doubled and the proportion of pupils walking or cycling has decreased significantly, so it is not surprising that levels of childhood obesity have increased! Obviously many children live too far from school to walk or cycle, especially in rural areas, but this is an issue which should be addressed. Statistics show that in urban areas at 8.50 am, 1 in 5 cars is taking children to school.

"The amount of time dedicated to school sports and PE has also declined in recent years because of the pressures of the curriculum and the Government's standards and testing agenda."



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Voice: the union for education professionals

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