Wales falling behind England and Scotland

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th Sep 2007

Wales has fallen behind the other home nations in terms of Healthy School Meals," says Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Education, Kirsty Williams AM.

Speaking in a debate calling for a Measure on Healthier School Meals, whereby local education authorities and schools would have a duty to promote healthy eating, Kirsty Williams said: "We should use the measure to educate young people who, in turn, can go home and educate their own parents about the choices that they make. Indeed, simply having children sit down together around a table to enjoy food is part of a positive educational experience, in teaching our children life skills.

"It is not just a question of investing money in the food itself. Education authorities must have the capacity to deliver good and healthy meals. For many people that means the ability to cook food on the premises… so there is the issue of investing in that infrastructure."

Kirsty added "The measure is not only about schools meals it would also seek to learn from mistakes made in England, whereby children have simply sought to feed their junk food habit from nearby burger vans or even in extreme cases parents, by giving the power to schools and councils to tackle these situations. "

Kirsty highlighted that the measure did not "absolve parents of their own responsibility" or could it alone "solve the obesity problems but, surely, where the state has a role to play in putting food in front of our children, that food should be the best food, it should be Welsh food and it should be food that gives them the opportunity not only to nourish their bodies but also their minds.

Notes:

The Debate Seeking the Assembly's Leave to Introduce a Member Proposed Measure for Healthier School Meals was put forward by Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Wellbeing Jenny Randerson AM. A full transcript of the debate can be found at:

http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-chamber/bus-chamber-third-assembly-rop/rop070919qv.pdf?langoption=3&ttl=The%20Record%20%28PDF%2C%20848kb%29

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