Burstow gives backing to School Meals Bill

6.16.54pm GMT Mon 28th Feb 2005

Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow has given his support to the School Meals and Nutrition Bill, which was the subject of debate in the House of Commons last Friday (25th February).

Paul Burstow MP has signed a parliamentary motion in support of the Private Members Bill which seeks to improve the nutritional content of meals available to school children. He is also at the forefront of a cross-party campaign against childhood obesity in support of a separate backbencher's bill, the Child Food Bill, which was presented to the House of Commons at the beginning of February.

Childhood obesity in children aged 6 to 15 more than trebled in the last decade. If the rapid acceleration in childhood obesity over the last ten years continues unchecked by 2020 more than half the nation's children will be obese.

The poor nutritional content of school meals was highlighted by a recent Barnados report that found none of the school meals it examined met basic nutritional guidelines. The amount spent on each child's school meal can be as low as 31 pence.

Mr Burstow has welcomed the School Meals and Nutrition Bill which would ensure schools provide only healthy options. OFSTED would be required to check that these standards had been met. The Bill, which has received cross party support, also calls for the use of vending machines to be regulated.

Paul Burstow commented:

'Getting every school to develop a nutrition policy and look critically at their approach to tuck shops and vending machines is an important step forward.

'It is vital to the health of the local community that we promote messages about healthy eating to young people: school is the best place to do this. School should be an environment where healthy food and regular exercise are simply the norm so that lifelong healthy habits can be developed. The School Meals Bill is an important step towards this goal and that is why I am giving it my full support.'