Free school meals: new evidence and support from MPs boosts case for roll out

School meals campaigners today welcomed backing from Scottish MPs for free school meals and the final report from Hull Council’s pilot of free school meals for primary children.

They say the latest Hull Report provides powerful backing for the Scottish Government’s free school meals programme, and welcome the increasingly cross party support for a universal approach to providing healthy free school meals.

Several Scottish Labour MPs including Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran), David Hamilton (Midlothian) and Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) have signed a Westminster Early Day Motion calling “for free, universal, locally-sourced lunches in UK schools”.

Head of CPAG in Scotland, John Dickie, said:

“The Hull research provides a compelling case for Scottish Ministers to roll out their pilot free school meal programme as soon as possible, and at the very least continue current pilots until the planned 2010 roll out. With politicians from all parties behind free school meals for all there is no reason to delay in ensuring all children and families benefit. Targeting fails to reach all those children who need it, but free school meals for all would leave no child behind and no child too hungry to learn.”

According to Marion Davis of One Parent Families Scotland;

“Universal free school meals for could make a huge impact in tackling family poverty and improving children's health and ability to learn. Universal provision has a dramatic effect on the take-up of healthy school meals and on pupils' concentration and behaviour. Public opinion, parents and children’s organizations across Scotland are fully behind the idea of universal free high quality school meals so the sooner the Scottish government rolls out free school meals to all children the better.”

Peter Kelly, Director at the Poverty Alliance, another leading member of the Campaign, added;

"Previous Scottish Government research found that cost was a key factor for pupils who chose not to take a school meal, so removing the cost discincentive is clearly crucial. The Scottish Government's free school meals pilot in primary schools is a massive step forward and needs to be rolled out as soon as possible.”

Media contacts:
John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland on 0141 552 3656 mobile 07795 340 618

Notes for editors

• The report was originally complete in January 2008 and the current Hull administration decided not to distribute it, but it has now been published on Hull University website: http://www.hull.ac.uk/ifl-research/finalreport.pdf
• EDM 1325 calls on the House of Commons to welcome the campaign for free, universal, locally-sourced lunches in UK schools; believes that the benefits of free school meals for all would far outweigh the cost; and urges the UK Government to make a full assessment of universal free school meals through the establishment of pilots see http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35564&SESSION=891
• Child Poverty Action Group is calling for the extension of free school meals as part of the 2 skint 4 school campaign. Research shows child poverty is the main factor in educational failure. Ending child poverty will help ensure every child fulfils their potential and Britain’s education results get better. For more information see: www.cpag.org.uk/2skint4school
• CPAG is one of over 100 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.