Implementation and Monitoring Working Party meeting 20 October 2006

Committee members
Rob Pickard
Maureen Howell
Gaynor Denny
Lindsey Kearton
Richard Edwards
Teresa Owen
Ruth Fairchild
Gaynor Bussell
Andrea Basu
David Smith
Elizabeth Dowling
Laura Davis

FSA Wales
Phil Morgan (Chair)
Jay Berry
Sarah Rowles (pm only)
Kerys James-Palmer

Apologies
Jeremy Corson
Hilary Neathey
Sue Mably
Anne Bull

Phil Morgan opened the meeting by welcoming all the members and introducing Elizabeth Dowler and Laura Davis from Warwick University. Apologies had been received from Jeremy Corson and Hilary Neathey. Sue Mably had, prior to the meeting, notified that having left WLGA she was no longer able to attend as a representative of that organisation. WLGA had still to provide a new nominee. The Committee noted Sue had been associated with Food and Well Being (FWB) since its inception, and extended their appreciation for the considerable contribution she had made both to the strategy's development and implementation.

Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as an accurate record of proceedings.

Updates on actions arising from the last meeting
Translation of information on FSA websites – The FSA gave an update regarding the commitment to translation of materials targeted at Welsh consumers and confirmed that agreement had been reached in principle to establish an in house Welsh Language Unit. Negotiations about funding the unit had still to be finalised but it was hoped recruitment could commence in the relatively near future. Once in place a priority task for the new staff would be to bring the content of the Agency's web pages into compliance with the requirements of the Welsh Language Scheme.

Maureen Howell provided a brief update on dietary data in connection with recently circulated information: Data is being collected across Wales using the Wales Health Survey but although numbers of participants are substantial the healthy eating component of the survey is limited to a few self reported questions about consumption of fruit and vegetables. NAtional Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) gave a much more robust and detailed picture of dietary behaviour and survey responses were supported by scientific analysis, but sample sizes were too small to allow information to be of any real value at local health board level. Phil Morgan commented that the surveys were very expensive and the Welsh sample size – even if funding could be found to provide a significant boost – would never be large enough to meet all conceivable needs. He confirmed that in relation to FWB target 3 (regarding average daily intakes of fruit and vegetables) the results of the latest NDNS survey – that looked specifically at low income consumers – is due in the New Year. David Smith mentioned the necessity of collecting good NDNS data in terms of recording potentially growing malnutrition in an ageing population.

Teresa Owen advised that with Paul Walker's retirement that she has taken over responsibility as the National Public Health Service (NPHS) member on the working party.

Liz Dowler gave a presentation on the Review of the Scottish Diet Action Plan which included the main findings, substantial, minor and minimal to no progress actions, the results after 10 years of existence, future policy lessons to be learned and the strategic policy themes. She went on to link this to the Mid-Term review of Food and Well Being and discussed how the team have drawn on the recent experiences in Scotland to review available data, undertake both stakeholder and community level consultations and case studies, and interpret this within both a national and international context.

The FSA and Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) staff then left the meeting and Liz Dowler and Laura Davis conducted two group workshops with the remaining IMWP members.

The meeting reconvened and briefly discussed ideas for the way forward. Laura Davis then gave a presentation on some of the methodology used during their research, an update on their progress so far and early findings. She confirmed that the first draft would be available to members by the end of December 2006 for circulation and comments.

Maureen provided an update on the Food and Fitness Action Plan. She added that the Appetite for Life consultation launched earlier in the year has a closing date of the 31 October 2006. There have been responses received but as yet there is no feedback data available. Richard Edwards (speaking in his capacity as a school headmaster) although welcoming the fact there is now an action plan for food in schools, had some concerns over the implications for workloads of teachers. Richard asked if the Schools Workload Advisory Panel had been or would be consulted. Maureen agreed to look into this and report back.
Action: Maureen Howell

Richard Edwards as chair of the sub-group introduced this item. He reminded the meeting of the background to the establishment of the sub-group highlighting its remit and membership. The sub group had been set up to make recommendations to inform the Working Party in formulating its response to the impending consultation on the curriculum review. A paper setting out a list of recommendations made by the sub group had been circulated by Sarah Rowles prior to the meeting. Members were asked if they were happy to endorse the approach recommended. Maureen advised that it had been determined the consultation will start on 8 January 2007 and run for a minimum of 12 weeks.

David Smith thanked the secretariat for distributing at the meeting, his comments on the paper containing recommendations emerging from the recent sub committee of which he was a member. Phil Morgan proposed that as there had been limited opportunity for all to consider the recommendations in detail, and in light of the clarification of the review timetable, a further IMWP meeting be scheduled soon after the consultation is launched to allow full discussion of the sub group report and give the secretariat a clear steer as to drafting of the Working Party's response. This would then be cleared – electronically or at a subsequent meeting – before the April deadline.

Rob Pickard stated that food has not been given the status it deserves in terms of citizenship for children.

Teresa Owen reported that this issue was generating increasing levels of interest from Local Health Boards and Local Authorities. She asked that the issue be tabled for future discussion so that everyone could have opportunity to contribute to an overview of current work and potential for future action at a forthcoming meeting of the IMWP. This was agreed by the group.

David Smith provided a brief overview of the Beecham review based on the information circulated prior to the meeting. He requested that all members make themselves aware of the importance of the Review as a basis for the future development of Food and Wellbeing in Wales and in particular work being undertaken in relation to the interim review.

David circulated some information concerning data collection and reiterated an earlier point that policymakers need to ensure that additional nutrition figures and data are systematically produced / researched. It was noted that a recent meeting between FSA and WAG Officials about funding of future NDNS surveys had led to some optimism that resources would be secured to allow an enhanced Wales sample size.

The Agency told the committee about the launch of the Awards for Food Action Locally (AFAL) 2007 awards on 13 October with one nomination form already having been returned.

Andrea Basu announced that she will be taking a secondment to Australia from January 2007 for a year and will arrange for a colleague to join the IMWP in her place until she returns.

Date of next meeting
The Chair proposed the date for the next meeting to be Tuesday 23 January 2007. Members will report back at a later date to confirm their availability.