School meal pilots “important and very welcome step”

20.09.07

Responding to reports of doubts over the Scottish Government’s free school meal pilots (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7002950.stm) leading lone parent and anti-poverty campaigners today reasserted their support for the groundbreaking pilots.

According to John Dickie, Head of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland,

“Any opposition to the pilots is out of step with the views of leading anti-poverty groups, children’s organisations, teaching unions, church groups and others who have consistently backed calls for free school meals for all primary school children.”

“The Scottish Government’s pilot approach is an important and very welcome step in the direction of ensuring every child, whatever their home circumstances, gets at least one healthy meal a day. Current means-testing of school meals means less than half of children living in poverty currently receive a free school meal.”

Marion Davis of One Parent Families Scotland added:

“Evaluation of a universal free school meals pilot in Hull primary schools found take-up of meals increased and that universal free school meals had a significant impact in all areas of children's schooling, behaviour, social relationships, health and learning. The Scottish pilots can add to this evidence.”

Peter Kelly of Poverty Alliance said:

“The time is right now to learn productively from these pilots how we can roll out free school meals to all primary school children in Scotland.”

For further information please contact:

John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland, 07795 340618, Office 0141 552 3656