Ardern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeArdern Jacinda: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 20 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7343. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]9.JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with his colleague Hon Anne Tolley’s statement that children who need “that instant hit of carbohydrates a pie might not be a bad thing” and her subsequent decision to scrap healthy eating guidelines in schools in 2009?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): Yes I think the decision was widely welcomed by schools at the time. It is important to note that the 2009 changes did not take away schools’ responsibility—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear the answer because of the level of interjection. I have risen to my feet on two or three occasions asking for some particular members to cease the loud interjections. I will have no choice but to be asking members to leave the Chamber. Would the Minister please start that answer again—I would like to hear it.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Certainly. Yes I think the decision was widely welcomed by schools at the time. It is important to note that the 2009 changes did not take away schools’ responsibility to promote healthy foods and drinks to students. We are now building on this by expanding the Health Promoting Schools programme to an extra 150 decile 1 to 4 primary and intermediate schools. In addition the Education Review Office will undertake a special review of food and nutrition and physical activity across the education system.Jacinda Ardern: Is he now contradicting himself given that he said in 2005 that “I can show you primary schools … where kids have a $1 pie for breakfast from the school tuck shop then follow up with more of the same for lunch. That’s what has to stop.”?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I do not think there is any contradiction in what I said 10 years ago at all. But the point is that we are not going to be banning pies. We are going to be working with schools with families and with communities to educate them that actually the odd pie now and then might not be a bad idea. There you go—that is yours. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have not called the member yet. But all members have a right to ask a supplementary question. The Hon Paula Bennett.Hon Paula Bennett: I think it is important—do not be a pie-hater—Mr SPEAKER: Just ask the question then.Hon Paula Bennett: What was Mrs Tolley’s—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I apologise to the Minister—we have a point of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: It is a point of order because I seriously agree with you Mr Speaker—I really want to hear this Minister’s question.Mr SPEAKER: Well then if the member stays in his seat and listens he will hear it as much as I will.Hon Paula Bennett: Thank you—I might know a thing or two about pies. What was Mrs Tolley’s full quote on pies and what other reports has he seen on pies recently?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Mrs Tolley’s full quote on pies was on Stuff on 2 March 2009. The full quote was: “For the kid who’s just been doing two hours of rugby practice and needs that instant hit of carbohydrates a pie might not be a bad thing.” I have received another report today in the New Zealand Herald saying “If you’re wondering about what’s been fuelling the All Blacks success in the Rugby World Cup …”. it is pies. The article goes on to say—this is from the All Blacks—“‘We have a dietician … We loved the … pies.’ And it seems to be working for them.” I suggest to Andrew Little that if he is going to turn up in London and mix with them he might not want to tell them that he does not like their diet because they might think that he is a bit of a wuss.Jacinda Ardern: Is a target based on how many children are referred from a B4 School Check to a health professional for a lifestyle intervention really meaningful when (a) more than 6000 of the most high-needs children are not accessing these checks in the first place; and (b) we already know that referrals are being handed down for other serious conditions and not being followed up?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: No. The member has got it all wrong. So 92 percent of children are getting the B4 School Check. We have raised that radically from about 68 percent when Labour was in power. We are determined to triple the numbers. At the moment 1400 children who are obese are being referred from those checks. We are going to triple that by December 2017 to 4200 children and no one can argue that that is not a good thing. It has been informed by expert advice. Pat Tuohy consultant paediatrician—he thinks it is a great idea. Sir Peter Gluckman thinks it is a great idea. It is one part—I tell you—you have got no argument against.Jacinda Ardern: Why did he not set a child obesity target that actually included reducing the number of children who are obese?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: We could have set all sorts of targets—you know the field was open. But what we took in the end was the expert advice and I would trust that advice over that member’s advice any day of the week.Jacinda Ardern: When did he consult the Children’s Commissioner on this package given his advocacy role and his position as a paediatrician and was it as early as May when he began an official discussion with industry?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I had my first lecture from the Children’s Commissioner towards the end of last year and then he came and saw me in my office probably around May. So I have had a full discussion with the Children’s Commissioner and we have had a free exchange of views on this.