Funding for Fashion Week 'depends on models' health'

Funding for London Fashion Week will be in jeopardy if its organisers do not work to protect models' health.

The London Development Agency (LDA) will fund the bi-annual event to the tune of £4.2m over a three-year period. But the LDA wants a break clause written into the agreement allowing it to halt funding if the British Fashion Council (BFC) does not implement recommendations of the independent Model Health Inquiry.

The inquiry, launched in response to concerns over eating disorders, produced a raft of recommendations last month that aim to improve the health of models. These include banning under-16s from the catwalk and asking models to undergo medical checks.

Responding to a query from Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat culture spokeswoman on the London Assembly, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: "The various terms of the grant agreement are still being discussed with the British Fashion Council, but LDA lawyers have written into the agreement a break clause should the BFC not clearly make its best efforts to implement the recommendations of the Model Health Inquiry."

LDA officers will report to the Mayor's office about the BFC's actions. The BFC will not be held accountable for implementing a number of Model Health Inquiry recommendations that are beyond its scope, the Mayor's written answer adds.

Welcoming the break clause, Mrs Doocey added: "There must be a watertight agreement to implement the recommendations of the Model Health Inquiry and the LDA must not fund London Fashion Week unless this happens."