FULL FREE SCHOOL MEALS CAMPAIGN

Early day motion 1325, tabled 2 April 2008 by Sharon Hodgson (Labour). Signed by 70 members.

That this House welcomes the launch, with the support of the Daily Mirror newspaper, of the FULL campaign for free, universal, locally-sourced lunches in UK schools; believes that introducing free, hot and healthy school meals and stay on site policies would be a major step in the fight against child obesity, remove the stigma of free school meals for some children, increase educational achievement, encourage an environmentally sustainable approach to school food, discourage pupils from eating junk food and cut nuisance behaviour in local communities at lunchtimes; notes academic research which shows a direct link between diet and educational attainment; recognises that obesity is estimated to cost the public purse £3.5 billion a year; believes that the benefits of free school meals for all would far outweigh the cost; and urges the Government to make a full assessment of universal free school meals through the establishment of pilots.

Signatures by party: Labour 60, DUP 5, Liberal Democrat 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, UKIP 1.