Junk Food is Banned in Scottish Schools

New legislation that will ban junk food from all of Scotland's schools has received unanimous backing from MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament). The law has guidelines about nutritional standards for all food and drink that will be served in schools. The legislation allows councils to provide free milk and healthy snacks to children. Attempts were made to provide free meals for all children in school, but this was rejected.

The Association of Head Teachers and Deputies in Scotland, as well as anti-poverty campaigners have tried to provide free lunches for children. But, a bid to achieve free lunches by Socialist MSP Frances Curran was voted down by MSPs. This issue was hotly debated in Holyrood a few weeks after First Minister Jack McConnell made a pledge to increase the number of children who are eligible for free school meals by almost 100,000 if Labour succeeds in winning the elections in May.

Fiona Hyslop, SNP education spokeswoman, argued in favour of a law that provides pilot projects for free school meals to be introduced in some schools. However, Hugh Henry, Education Minister argued that the new legislation was meant to ensure all schools met proper nutritional standards. He said: "This is not a bill about free school meals. We do not support universal free school meals for all, we do want to target resources where they are needed the most and that is what we are doing."

Councils will be responsible for maintaining the anonymity of any children who are eligible for free school meals. The new law will also require that each child will be provided with free drinking water. Free milk was no longer made available for 7-11 year olds in 1971 by then Education Secretary Margaret Thatcher. The former Prime Minister earned the nickname "Milk Thatcher".

Mr Henry is hopeful that the change in legislation will mean children become healthy eating "ambassadors", able to influence other members of their family, by their own good example. According to the Scottish Executive, the issue of fast food vans trading outside the school gates was a separate issue, that was a matter for local authorities to deal with.

It stands to be seen whether the new legislation will take off in Scottish schools. Children will still have the freedom to buy food from fast food vans that are parked outside schools. The new legislation cannot prevent that, but it may help to encourage a healthier approach to lunchtime.

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6452291.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5332856.stm