School Meals (Hansard, 20 April 2000)

§ Mr. Robert Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to make regulations and issue guidelines about minimum nutritional standards in school meals; and if he will make a statement. [119465]

§ Jacqui Smith
We intend to lay regulations setting minimum nutritional standards for school lunches before the summer recess, and to make available guidance to school caterers this autumn. The regulations will come 601W into effect in all maintained schools in April 2001. The standards have been developed in a practical non-prescriptive manner to ensure pupils receive good quality meals. Headteachers are now free to choose different suppliers for meals as a result of the Government's fair funding arrangements and these standards will help to ensure they are of consistent quality.

§ Mr. Robert Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which foodstuffs listed in the guidelines for minimum nutritional standards in schools contain iron, zinc, selenium and protein. [119502]

§ Jacqui Smith
We intend that the regulations setting minimum nutritional standards for school lunches will set food—rather than nutrient—based standards. We shall aim for workable standards which will not contain compulsory food items. Schools and local education authorities will be required to offer options from the four main food groups.
Supplementary guidance for caterers will offer advice and list those food items which best provide the nutrients which are particularly important in a young person's diet, such as iron.

§ Mr. Robert Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he plans to put in place to monitor the operation of, and enforce the guidelines for, minimum nutritional standards in schools.[119501]

§ Jacqui Smith
Schools and local education authorities will be under a duty to comply with the regulations which will set out the new nutritional standards for school lunches. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will investigate any complaints that the standards are not being met and will if necessary issue a direction to ensure compliance with the statutory duties. Guidance on the regulations will include advice on monitoring of nutritional standards. Finally, the Department will be evaluating the impact of the nutritional standards over time.