Candidate calls for free school meals in Rochdale primary schools

Date published: 18/08/2008

Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, is joining forces with GMB trade union to urge the Government to introduce universal free healthy school meals in primary schools as a vital first step in ending health inequality.

With a recent Department of Health report revealing that health inequalities are widening across Rochdale and latest figures showing that Rochdale has four entries in the top 100 poorest areas in the country, Mr Danczuk argued that healthy eating from an early age could make a real difference.

He said: “I will be campaigning for this policy, which will cost around £1billion, to be included in the next Labour election manifesto.”

“If we introduce people to healthy eating at an early age we can get them into good habits for life and improve the health and well-being of our children. There is a lot of deprivation in our Borough and I am aware that some parents can’t afford proper school meals for their children. Children from poorer backgrounds are losing out as a result of this and I want our Government to give them more help.

"I’ve seen some children eating only a packet of crisps for their lunch. This often means they won’t be able to concentrate properly in classes and learn as much as they should when they’re not getting a balanced and nutritious diet.”

As part of their campaign, GMB have recently published new national and regional league tables of life expectancy for males and females in all 432 districts of the UK. Rochdale has one of the lowest life expectancies in the North West with an average of 74.9 years for men and 79.2 years for women. Out of 43 local authorities, Rochdale has the 34th best life expectancy.

Paul McCarthy, GMB Regional Secretary for the North West added: “Healthy eating is a key factor in how long we live. For all families a nutritious healthy free school meal would be invaluable support in ensuring every child has healthy food options and would take pressure off families’ monthly food bills.

“Free school meals for all primary school children will provide long term benefits to the nation’s health, as well as dealing with the old fashioned stigma associated with means tested free provisions.”

The former chairman of Rochdale Primary Care Trust, Debbie Abrahams, has also added her support to the campaign, arguing that food poverty urgently needs to be tackled in Rochdale.

She said: “Food poverty - not having access to healthy affordable food - is a fact of life for people on low incomes.

“Poor diet is a risk factor for diseases such as diabetes, some cancers and heart disease. Inequalities in people's diet leads to inequalities in their health. In addition we know from evidence in countries where school meals are free that children perform better, are more attentive and behave better too. This is a very important initiative and I am delighted to support Simon in getting this onto the Labour Party's policy agenda.”