Head Teachers join anti-poverty groups to call on MSPs to back free school meals in crunch vote

13.03.07

Head Teachers have joined forces with anti-poverty campaigners to urge MSPs to back an amendment that would provide free school meals for all Scotland’s primary school children. The call comes as MSPs vote today (Wednesday 14 March) on the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill. Amendment 14, in the name of Frances Curran MSP, would extend free school meal entitlement to all primary school children.

According to the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS), the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland and the Poverty Alliance it is time Scotland’s Parliament finally delivered high quality nutritious meals to all pupils. They say free school meal amendments to the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill would go a long way to achieving this.

Greg Dempster, General Secretary of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) said:

“AHDS has highlighted the provision of free school meals for all as one of the four key priorities politicians must consider. We know that there is a clear link between what children eat and their ability to learn. This Bill must be amended to ensure every primary school child receives the nutritious school dinner they need to get the most out of the school day.”

According to Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance,

“The time for free school meals for all primary school children has come. We have the support of leading children’s organisations, including Children 1st, NCH, Save the Children and Children in Scotland, as well as the teaching unions, head teachers, leading nutritionists and health experts. All we now need is MSPs to vote for this vital measure.”

 Referring to the First Minister’s recent pledge to, if re-elected, extend entitlement to free school meals to all children in families receiving maximum working tax credit, John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland, added

“We very much welcome the First Minister’s pledge. We believe this represents a real step forward for our campaign to ensure every child benefits from a free nutritious school meal. However tomorrow’s debate provides an opportunity to avoid delay and extend entitlement to a vital benefit now. What better way for the Scottish Parliament to demonstrate its commitment to ending the scandal of child poverty than to ensure every child receives at least one decent meal a day? "

For more details contact:

Greg Dempster, General Secretary of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) on Tel: 0845 260 7560 Mobile: 07910 291918

John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland on 0141 552 3656 or 0779 534 0618

Peter Kelly, Director, Poverty Alliance on 0141 353 0440 or 07814 022 050

Notes:

1. The Scottish Free School Meals Campaign, a broad-based coalition of organisations across Scotland, including children’s charities, churches, unions, public health groups, anti-poverty groups, dieticians, politicians and local government representatives. The Campaign is co-ordinated by CPAG in Scotland along with the Poverty Alliance.
2. 2. More on the case for free school meals can be found at www.freeschoolmeals.org
3. For details of the latest Scottish Executive school meal statistics see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/06/05141444/2