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Free meals on schools menu
03/10/2007
Free and healthy school meals will be available for more than 30,000 Scottish kids after the October break.
The Parliament today approved a series of trial projects worth £5 million in total so that every primary one to three pupil in the Borders, East Ayrshire, Fife, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire will be entitled to a free, nutritious school meal every day from October until March.
The aim is to change the culture around food in Scotland by promoting nutritious menus and developing children's palates so they are used to healthy options.
Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram said:
"For too long, Scotland's health has been affected by a legacy of poor diet. This government is determined to change these habits, and we believe strongly that targeting our youngest pupils will bring health benefits for them now and in the future.
"Children need a good, healthy source of energy to get them through the school day. These meals will make a difference to pupils and parents on a daily basis, especially in some of the most deprived areas.
"This trial will help us to see whether providing free, healthy school lunches to our youngest pupils can help bring about a culture change towards healthy eating habits and social behaviour, both at home and in school.
"This important information will help us develop our plans about how and when we can expand the provision of free school meals, so that more young people can enjoy the benefits of free, nutritious lunches."
The Parliament agreed to The Provision of School Lunches (Disapplication of the Requirement to Charge) (Scotland) Order 2007 which amends the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and enables the trial scheme to run.
Ministers will closely evaluate the pilots for evidence on:
Changes in attitudes and behaviours by children and parents to school meals and healthy eating
- Eating habits - in school and at home
- Pupils' views on healthy school meals
- Practical issues for schools - kitchen/ dining hall capacity
- Development of social skills as children eat together
Scottish pupils already benefit from free fruit in primary one and two.
Approximate costs for each six-month scheme are:
Borders - £592,000
East Ayrshire - £500,000
Fife - £1,700,000
Glasgow - £1,300,000
West Dunbartonshire - £450,000