“Back this Bill" demand headteachers, churches and school meal campaigners

Headteachers, churches, charities and anti-poverty groups welcome introduction of new free school meals Bill at Holyrood

Headteachers, churches, anti-poverty groups and children’s charities are welcoming the introduction today (28/9/06) of a new Bill by Frances Curran MSP that would provide free school meals for all Scotland’s primary school children.

Speaking on behalf of members of the Scottish Churches Social Inclusion Network Rev Graham K Blount said,

“Providing a nutritious good quality free school meal to every Scottish school child would have a massive impact on the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s children – particularly those in our poorest families.”

The Network joined the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, the Association of Head Teachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS), One Plus and the Poverty Alliance in demanding Scotland’s Parliament finally delivers high quality nutritious meals to all pupils. They say the new Bill would go a long way to achieving this.

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

“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, if enacted, would ensure every primary school child receives the nutritious school dinner they need to get the most out of the school day.”

Welcoming the publication of the Bill, John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland, said

“It’s scandalous that nearly half of children officially recognised as living in poverty don’t even get a free school meal, either because they are not entitled or don’t take up their entitlement. This Bill would help end that scandal and we urge MSPs to join the 500 organisations and individuals who already back this Bill.”

According to Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance,

“The time for free school meals for all primary school children has come. We now 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”

Speaking for lone parent organisation One Plus, Marion Davis pointed out current means testing of school meals leaves many low paid working families struggling.

“Universal free school meals would remove the poverty trap means testing creates. It would leave many low paid working families up to £27 a week better off.”

With research from Dundee University showing the current system of means testing is “wholly inadequate” in tackling child poverty, Mr Dickie added

“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 further information please contact:
John Dickie, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, 0779 534 0618

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

Rev Graham K Blount, Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office, 0131 622 2278

Notes:

1. The Education (School Meals etc.) (Scotland) Bill was introduced today (Thursday 28/9/06). See http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/businessBulletin/bb-06/bb-09-28g.htm for details. The Bill is for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for free school meals, water and milk in education authority primary schools; to confer further powers on the Scottish Ministers to extend such provision; to require the Scottish Ministers to set nutritional standards for certain school meals and to establish a complaints procedure in relation to the standards; and to confer powers on the Scottish Ministers to regulate the sale and advertisement of food and drink at certain schools. (SP Bill 74) (Member’s Bill)
2. 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 One Plus, Poverty Alliance see www.freeschoolmeals.org.
3. More on the case for free school meals can be found at www.freeschoolmeals.org
4. For details of the latest Scottish Executive school meal statistics see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/06/05141444/2