Government late to recognise the importance of healthy school meals

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 1st Apr 2005

Commenting on the government's announcement of new investment in school meals Phil Willis MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary said: "The extra funds are welcome but it's sad that it's taken a celebrity chef to get the government to act when they've had 8 years to improve the sorry state of school dinners.

"Promoting healthy living for kids covers a range of topics and I hope that this new initiative is more than the government simply throwing money at a problem because we're a few weeks away from election. Education on nutrition needs to be part of the curriculum because it's no good kids having healthy lunches if they can't shop for and cook healthy meals at home.

"Education, and the actual preparation of meals in schools, should involve local sourcing of ingredients so children learn about where food comes from.

"The government also needs to address the other side of the "energy in/energy out" equation for healthy bodies by ensuring there is time within the school day available for PE, not just in after school clubs."