Local AM's pledge to improve school meals

9.44.56am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th Jan 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has expressed her concern at the nutritional content of some school meals.

The local AM is backing her party's calls to introduce new standards for school lunches, with more investment to help schools and local authorities provide children with healthier meals.

Ms Williams said: "Feeding our children shouldn't be about putting the easiest and quickest food on their plates. That's why I want to see new nutritional standards for school meals, based on best practice and research, which would provide children with at least a third of their nutritional needs.

"We should re-direct funding from Labour's free breakfast gimmick towards ensuring investment in delivering healthier and more nutritional school lunches. By making this a priority now we would help give our children the best start and the tools to live a productive and healthy life. The aim is that much of this healthy food would be sourced and produced locally, giving children the chance to learn where their food comes from and how to get a healthy balance in their diets.

"We should also ensure stricter controls on the marketing of food and drinks in schools to go alongside healthier meals. This would make a huge difference in tackling obesity and creating the best learning environment."