School Meals (Hansard, 10 June 1980)

§ 4. Miss Joan Lestor
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will hold an inquiry into the nutritional value of schools meals.

§ Mr. Macfarlane
No.

§ Miss Lestor
Is the Minister aware that the switch to the cafeteria system has, among other things, caused grave concern among teachers and parents alike about the nutritional value of school meals? Is he further aware that in some areas the overwhelming majority of children taking school meals are those eligible for free school meals because the parents who are asked to pay for them do not consider that the nutritional value of the meal is worth the increased price? Will he reconsider his reply, and agree to institute an inquiry into the nutritional content of school meals?

§ Mr. Macfarlane
The hon. Lady said that the cafeteria type meal is unpopular and unacceptable in many schools. I do not believe that that is true.

§ Miss Lestor
I said that it was nutritionally bad.

§ Mr. Macfarlane
I do not believe that the nutritional aspect is bad. The cafeteria type meal has been present in many secondary schools for a long time. Most pupils like it, most teachers approve of it, and it is becoming popular in the ever-changing dietary scene in Britain. The hon. Lady touched upon the price of school meals. It is interesting to note that during the current school term 38 local authorities are charging only 35p, 32 are charging 40p, and 13 are charging 45p. That is the lion's share of the 105 local education authorities.

§ Mr. David Atkinson
Is my hon. Friend satisfied with the fact that, out of the total average price of the school meal, only 18p goes towards the cost of the food itself?

§ Mr. Macfarlane
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. That has often been a great problem with the school meals service. We believe that releasing local authorities to apply their own standards in each school will benefit the Exchequer.

§ Mr. Whitehead
Will the Minister consider the nutritional consequences of the decision taken by many county councils, including Derby, to withdraw school milk from infant schools for children between 5 and 7 years of age? Does he realise that that is hitting the diet of growing children in a harmful way?

§ Mr. Macfarlane
That is a matter for the Derbyshire education committee. It is the intention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to monitor, in due course, the nutritional effects of the new school meals and milk arrangements. It is a matter for the local authority, and not for the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

§ Mr. Farr
Will my hon. Friend reconsider his reply? Is he aware that, with the economies being made by education authorities, there is a risk that they are using more and more soya bean as a substitute for meat? Is he further aware that the soya bean is not of great nutritional value, and could be damaging to the health of children?

§ Mr. Macfarlane
On the contrary, I think that the soya bean is quite nutritional.