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24/09/2008
£20m Free School Meal Pilot
All Primary School pupils will be offered free school meals in a £20m pilot scheme in two areas of England, ministers have announced.
In a third area current eligibility will be extended so a larger group of pupils from poor families will qualify.
The pilot will start in September next year, and last for two years, it will be run jointly by the Health and Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Departments.
The trial will fully evaluate the benefits in terms of obesity, general health and children's behaviour as well as increased uptake of healthy meals.
The areas for involvement in the scheme have not been specified yet.
In July unions called for universal entitlement to free meals.
Labour MP Sharon Hodgson said: "Serving up a free healthy lunch in every school would bring benefits to the nation's collective health, educational attainment and environmental credentials."
(GK/JM)
In a third area current eligibility will be extended so a larger group of pupils from poor families will qualify.
The pilot will start in September next year, and last for two years, it will be run jointly by the Health and Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Departments.
The trial will fully evaluate the benefits in terms of obesity, general health and children's behaviour as well as increased uptake of healthy meals.
The areas for involvement in the scheme have not been specified yet.
In July unions called for universal entitlement to free meals.
Labour MP Sharon Hodgson said: "Serving up a free healthy lunch in every school would bring benefits to the nation's collective health, educational attainment and environmental credentials."
(GK/JM)
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