Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to deliver the UK’s financial commitments from the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK’s longstanding commitment to addressing malnutrition was reaffirmed earlier this year at the Nutrition for Growth Summit.
During that summit, we launched the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration and committed to continue integrating nutrition across our development programmes.
We are also continuing to support the Child Nutrition Fund to tackle acute malnutrition, and providing Technical Assistance to help developing countries improve their own nutrition responses.
Asked by: Elsie Blundell (Labour - Heywood and Middleton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recommendations in the report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition entitled Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years, last updated 8 May 2024.whether she plans to take steps to make an assessment on the potential impact of (a) food pouches and (b) highly blended food on the development of (i) chewing skills, (ii) oral motor function and (iii) dental health in children under 36 months.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Two research projects have been commissioned that will consider the impact of commercially manufactured baby foods on dental health. These are based on research recommendations made in the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years and are funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
One is the Studying Health Impacts of Early Diets project, that runs from December 2024 to May 2027. The overall aim of this project is to assess how the diet of children aged between one and five years old in the United Kingdom influences their health in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.
The other is the Growing Well Study running from March 2025 to March 2028. This study aims to understand more about the eating habits of children aged between one and five years old, and how this affects their growth and dental health.
No Government-funded research is currently underway that is considering the potential impact of food pouches and highly blended food on the development of chewing skills or oral motor function in children aged under 36 months.
The Department commissions research through the NIHR. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the health impacts of infant feeding practices.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK’s commitments at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit are implemented through integration with (a) education, (b) immunisation, and (c) other relevant areas of development policy.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is a global leader in nutrition and continues to prioritise nutrition integration across sectors. At the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, the UK launched the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration, encouraging all 86 signatories to integrate nutrition into sectors such as education and health, for example through GAVI's Immunisation Nutrition Integration work. Since 2021 the FCDO has adopted a Nutrition Policy Marker, which prompts teams to consider nutrition objectives and integration during programme design. This is applied across programmes on early childhood development, food and agriculture, and social protection that are delivered bilaterally or through multilateral partners.
Asked by: Noah Law (Labour - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of further investment in agricultural supply chains in northern Nigeria to help promote the region’s (a) climate resilient agriculture, (b) peace and (c) security.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to supporting peace and stability in Northern Nigeria. Our work is strengthening agricultural supply chains in the region, to boost sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security, and help address drivers of conflict.
Our Propcom+ programme works with agribusiness, State and Federal government authorities, and wider development partners, to support investment and growth in climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria, including in the North. Since 2022, Propcom+ has worked with over 750,000 farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs, nearly half of which are women, to adapt to the effects of climate change. In addition, the UK's Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme (SPRiNG) is working to reduce rural violence in Northwest and North-central Nigeria. It does this by supporting productive livelihoods for farmers and pastoralists, and by strengthening conflict early warning, management and response.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what is the breakdown of financial (a) commitments and (b) disbursements in relation to the UK’s 2021 Nutrition for Growth pledge to spend at least £1.5 billion on nutrition objectives from 2022-2030 to date.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since 2010, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has reported on its nutrition-related spend across our Official Development Assistance (ODA). The latest available report captures data up to 2023 and shows that FCDO dispersed over 40 per cent of our 2021 Nutrition for Growth spend pledge during the first two years. FCDO Ministers have decided to move away from a spend focused target and instead focus on a more meaningful results target to better demonstrate the impact achieved through our programme and policy efforts to improve nutrition.
FCDO officials are currently working on proposals for a nutrition results target and will share more information on this in due course with the aim to report on nutrition results from 2026. Whilst we will no longer be reporting spend against the 2021 spend target, we do intend to continue to share our nutrition spend data as part of our established accountability mechanisms.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to deliver the full financial value of the UK’s 2021 Nutrition for Growth pledge.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since 2010, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has reported on its nutrition-related spend across our Official Development Assistance (ODA). The latest available report captures data up to 2023 and shows that FCDO dispersed over 40 per cent of our 2021 Nutrition for Growth spend pledge during the first two years. FCDO Ministers have decided to move away from a spend focused target and instead focus on a more meaningful results target to better demonstrate the impact achieved through our programme and policy efforts to improve nutrition.
FCDO officials are currently working on proposals for a nutrition results target and will share more information on this in due course with the aim to report on nutrition results from 2026. Whilst we will no longer be reporting spend against the 2021 spend target, we do intend to continue to share our nutrition spend data as part of our established accountability mechanisms.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure (a) transparency and (b) accountability in nutrition spending following its decision to discontinue reporting on the 2021 Nutrition for Growth financial commitment to spend at least £1.5 billion on nutrition objectives from 2022-2030.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since 2010, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has reported on its nutrition-related spend across our Official Development Assistance (ODA). The latest available report captures data up to 2023 and shows that FCDO dispersed over 40 per cent of our 2021 Nutrition for Growth spend pledge during the first two years. FCDO Ministers have decided to move away from a spend focused target and instead focus on a more meaningful results target to better demonstrate the impact achieved through our programme and policy efforts to improve nutrition.
FCDO officials are currently working on proposals for a nutrition results target and will share more information on this in due course with the aim to report on nutrition results from 2026. Whilst we will no longer be reporting spend against the 2021 spend target, we do intend to continue to share our nutrition spend data as part of our established accountability mechanisms.
Asked by: Earl of Dundee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what research they have undertaken into the integration of food, farming and nature into national curriculums in other Council of Europe member states, to inform good practice in England.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Food education is covered across design and technology, biology, geography and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) in the national curriculum. It requires that pupils learn about healthy eating, where food comes from, nutrition and sustainability. The national curriculum framework provides teachers with freedom and flexibility to decide how best to cover curriculum subjects so topics such as farming and sustainability can be taught. Additional resources are available for teachers from the National Education Nature Park and Oak National Academy.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review has gathered a broad range of evidence through a call for evidence that was open to all, both domestically and internationally. The Review is carefully considering recommendations for all subjects in the national curriculum, and the final report, due in autumn 2025, will set out its conclusions and recommendations for government.
The ‘Good Food Cycle’, launched in July 2025, sets out the government’s vision for a 21st century UK food system, with ten priority outcomes including healthy and more affordable food, good growth and sustainable and resilient supply. Through this strategy, we are collaborating across government on good food education. The Ministerial Food Strategy Group, convened by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, includes Ministers from across government, including the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care. The group provides political leadership and alignment with the Plan for Change and government missions.
Asked by: Earl of Dundee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to bring together educators, health professionals, farmers, campaigners, and sustainability experts to better integrate farming, food, and nature into education.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Food education is covered across design and technology, biology, geography and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) in the national curriculum. It requires that pupils learn about healthy eating, where food comes from, nutrition and sustainability. The national curriculum framework provides teachers with freedom and flexibility to decide how best to cover curriculum subjects so topics such as farming and sustainability can be taught. Additional resources are available for teachers from the National Education Nature Park and Oak National Academy.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review has gathered a broad range of evidence through a call for evidence that was open to all, both domestically and internationally. The Review is carefully considering recommendations for all subjects in the national curriculum, and the final report, due in autumn 2025, will set out its conclusions and recommendations for government.
The ‘Good Food Cycle’, launched in July 2025, sets out the government’s vision for a 21st century UK food system, with ten priority outcomes including healthy and more affordable food, good growth and sustainable and resilient supply. Through this strategy, we are collaborating across government on good food education. The Ministerial Food Strategy Group, convened by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, includes Ministers from across government, including the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care. The group provides political leadership and alignment with the Plan for Change and government missions.
Asked by: Earl of Dundee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve coordination between the Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care, and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with regard to food, farming and sustainability education in England.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Food education is covered across design and technology, biology, geography and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) in the national curriculum. It requires that pupils learn about healthy eating, where food comes from, nutrition and sustainability. The national curriculum framework provides teachers with freedom and flexibility to decide how best to cover curriculum subjects so topics such as farming and sustainability can be taught. Additional resources are available for teachers from the National Education Nature Park and Oak National Academy.
The Curriculum and Assessment Review has gathered a broad range of evidence through a call for evidence that was open to all, both domestically and internationally. The Review is carefully considering recommendations for all subjects in the national curriculum, and the final report, due in autumn 2025, will set out its conclusions and recommendations for government.
The ‘Good Food Cycle’, launched in July 2025, sets out the government’s vision for a 21st century UK food system, with ten priority outcomes including healthy and more affordable food, good growth and sustainable and resilient supply. Through this strategy, we are collaborating across government on good food education. The Ministerial Food Strategy Group, convened by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, includes Ministers from across government, including the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care. The group provides political leadership and alignment with the Plan for Change and government missions.