The case for universal free healthy school meals
05.10.09 - Mary Turner, GMB President
Conference, Mary Turner, GMB. Proud to be moving the contemporary issue on school meals.
I want to start by thanking everyone, especially in the CLP's who have supported this crucial issue. I also want to congratulate our Labour government for being the champions of children and families and for taking the bold step of piloting healthy free school meals in Newham and Durham and extending the provision In Wolverhampton. Conference now is the time to go all the way. Be bold!
Since 1980 when the Tories scrapped Free school meals and opened up the school meal service to a constant diet if pizza's, hot dogs and burgers we have been warning that this would damage our children's health. Now our children are suffering record levels of diabetes and obesity. We've campaigned passionately about this because it's so important for our children's education and well being.
It's a fact that well fed and nourished children are healthier and healthy children behave and learn better. Compare a well balanced, nutritional hot school meal with burgers from a chip van or, as we sometimes see, just a chocolate bar, or just a packet of crisps. Or the child who says they have no lunch at all. Often, a school lunch is the only decent meal a child gets. Too often, it's the only meal at all. The current free school meals system is good. However it's historical link, as a safety net for poorer families only, has led to almost one third of a million of children, who are entitled to them, don't claim them. It's the children who lose out first. It's the family that suffers. It's the country that loses in the long run.
That's why we must have free healthy school meals for all. And those authorities that are trialing universal free school meals are loving it. It is socially right. It's popular with parents. It's a doorstep winner. Just the right sort of policy for operation fightback. Our critics will ask about the cost. I don't see a cost. I see an investment in our children's health and education because that's the difference between us and the Tories. The Tories, who looked at the pilot in Newham, said free school meals for all was great for kids and families. It clearly led to a better diet, happier and more content children in the class room, improved learning and better behaviour but then went on to say they wouldn't support it, because it costs money. So an old story, Tories put children after their wallets and the Lib Dems are of the same view. They scrapped the successful free school meals that Labour had introduced in Hull.
Exactly what price do the Tories and the Lib Dems put on the health of our children? Because in our party, the Labour Party, we care about our children's future and where we can do something to help we step in investing in the health of our children today brings massive dividends for the future of our nation.
Conference please support universal free healthy school meals.
