Campaign Successes

09/12/2009

More Free School Meals to be served up thanks to Pre-Budget Report

Picture of With Diana Johnson MP

North East MPs Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) and Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead East and Washington West) have welcomed today's announcement that 500,000 more pupils across the UK will be entitled to a free school meal. Chancellor Alistair Darling used his assessment of the nation's finances to reveal that Labour would extend existing pilots of universal free school meals to every region as well as increasing support for working families, lifting another 50,000 children out of poverty.

 

The move follows a long campaign by regional MPs and anti-poverty charities and will be seen by many as a sign that the Government believes the current pilots of free school meals in County Durham are delivering exceptional results across the City. Campaigners are now hopeful that a commitment to universal free school meals could feature in the Labour manifesto next year.

 

Roberta Blackman-Woods MP said,

 

"After a great deal of campaigning by Sharon, myself and the Women's Group of the Parliamentary Labour Party, along with outside organisations we got a Free School Meal pilot scheme in County Durham covering my constituency.  The early indications are that the scheme is extremely popular and successful with some schools in Durham showing that every single child is now eating a free, nutritious lunch.  I am delighted that the Chancellor announced he will now extend the pilots to every region.  In areas not covered by the extra pilots the Government will provide extra help for families on lower-incomes by allowing more children to get free school meals.

  

"The benefits of free school meals are plain to see.  Kids learn social skills, they get nutritious meals, their concentration and therefore attainment improve, employment is boosted, and local businesses are supported through local purchasing which also helps the environment.  The scheme really ticks every box."

 

 

Sharon Hodgson MP said:

 

"The ultimate goal remains that every child should be entitled to a free, hot, healthy school meal but today's announcement will make a difference to some of the poorest households in the country and we should welcome it. I've been saying for years that universal free school meals will bring health, educational and environmental benefits and I am glad that the Government is getting the message."

 

John Dickie of Child Poverty Action Group said:

 

"The announcement of the extension of free school meals to a further half a million primary children with parents in work lifting another 50,000 children out of poverty is fantastic news and will help hard pressed family budgets stretch further. The work of MPs like Sharon and Roberta to promote this issue in Parliament has been vital and we are pleased the Chancellor has listened to campaigners' calls on this issue."

  

  

NOTES:

  

1.                  Photo attached.  Roberta Blackman-Woods and DCSF Minister, Diana Johnson, who has responsibility for free school meals, visiting Witton Gilbert Primary School.

 

2.                  Details are contained in the pre-budget as follows:

 

Children in families with at least one parent in work are four times less likely to be in poverty than those in families without, and children in families with a second earner have an even lower poverty risk. However, the Government recognises that making the transition back into employment can be difficult. To support low income families, and improve incentives to work, the Government will extend eligibility to Free School Meals to primary school pupils in working families with a household income below £16,190. The extension will be staged, with the first rollout to up to 50 per cent of eligible primary school pupils from September 2010. The Government's aim is that, from September 2011, all primary school pupils in low income working families will be entitled to receive Free School Meals, benefitting around 500,000 children. In addition, the Government will extend the current pilots of universal Free School Meals for children, so that there is a pilot in each English region. Once fully rolled out, this and other measures announced in and since Budget 2007 mean that around 550,000 children are expected to be lifted out of poverty.

 

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