Backing Cadbury promotion was wrong, says Hain

A cabinet minister has admitted the Government was "pretty indefensible" for backing a Cadbury's promotion which offered sports equipment for schools if pupils ate thousands of chocolate bars.

The Leader of the Commons, Peter Hain, slammed the scheme - which was endorsed by Sports Minister Richard Caborn - for encouraging childhood obesity.

His comments, on BBC's Question Time show last night, earned a round of applause from an audience but are certain to infuriate Mr Caborn.

The promotion was launched last year but later dropped. To qualify for a single football net, children had to send in a total of 5,440 chocolate wrappers.

"I think that's pretty indefensible in retrospect, actually, I do, I do." Mr Hain said.

He quickly added "before a ministerial colleague pages me" that he thought there should be a better balance between parents and Government being responsible for encouraging healthy eating among children.

The Cadbury's scheme was highlighted in a scathing Health Select Committee report on the dangers of obesity, which said a generation of overweight children could be outlived by their parents.