To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria will be used for assessing the effectiveness of the new school food policies; against what benchmarking evidence progress will be measured; over what time scale the policy’s effectiveness will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement. (114414)

The School Food Trust will have preliminary findings related to changes in the provision of school food available later this year. Preliminary results on children’s consumption will be available in 2009 (for primary schools) and in 2010 (for secondary schools).

In support of the drive to improve school food, and the commitments made in the Public Health White Paper “Choosing Health”, Ofsted will expect schools to present evidence about their general approach to food and healthy eating (the “whole school” approach) as well as more specifically about the standard of school lunches. Ofsted will routinely comment on the quality of school meals and will report on any issues which arise out of the self assessment or as a result of their inspection visit.

In addition, Ofsted are undertaking a separate programme of visits to a smaller sample of schools. This will allow more detailed reporting on the standard of food provided and consumed in schools.

These arrangements reflect our vision about the importance of healthy eating and our determination to support schools in their efforts to improve the nutritional quality of food and drink.