THE Government may argue that the drop in the amount of fruit and vegetables being bought in Britain - a fall of 1.6 per cent on the previous year - is inconsequential.

But the point is that, after five years of campaigning to highlight the virtues of eating healthily, the figures should be going up.

The statistics are particularly worrying here in the North-East where only 16.6 per cent of the population eats the recommended levels of fruit and vegetables compared with the national average of 23.6 per cent.

Whatever resources are pumped into the National Health Service, a long-term solution to Britain's health needs is dependent on a greater emphasis being placed on measures which prevent illness. The focus has to be kept on more exercise and healthier diets.

The Government has to be commended on some of the initiatives it has launched, such as providing primary school children with a free piece of fruit each day.

But, clearly, more has to be done. It took Jamie Oliver to shame the Government over the poor quality of school meals.

And key issues such as the advertising of harmful foods and the affordability of healthy produce have yet to be properly tackled.

But whatever action the Government takes, Britain's drive towards healthy eating will only be truly successful if leadership is shown at home.

Parents, not ministers or health officials, are the most important ingredient in this crucial debate.

Only when mums and dads ensure their children eat fruit and vegetables every day will the health of the nation take an upturn.