New law would make school meals Measure up (Kirsty Williams AM )

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Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

New law would make school meals Measure up

June 25, 2007 12:37 PM

Welsh Liberal Democrat AMs pledged to make school meals healthier - as they unveiled a range of bids for private members legislation today.

All AMs will have the opportunity to enter one of two ballots for private members legislation tomorrow. The Welsh Liberal Democrat group, have agreed to put healthier school meals at the top of their priorities, with all the Party's AMs submitting it as a measure.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "The food our children eat has a powerful impact on their ability to learn and grow. That's why all of us as AMs have decided to submit this as a potential Assembly Measure.

"I know from my involvement with the Farm to Fork project in Monmouthshire School in my constituency, how difficult it is to change established ways of feeding our children. But I also know it can be done.

"This measure would introduce 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."

Education spokesperson Kirsty Williams added: "Feeding our children shouldn't be about putting the easiest and quickest food on their plates, it should be a vital part of feeding their appetite for learning and feeding their ability to learn."

In addition to this measure, all Welsh Liberal Democrat AMs have entered the ballot to put forward a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) which - if successful - would give the Assembly the power to make measures.

Kirsty Williams is seeking an LCO which would allow the Assembly to make National Park Authorities more accountable.

Eleanor Burnham's LCO bid would enable the Assembly to pass a new Welsh Language Act.

Peter Black is seeking the powers to put the provision of youth services on a statutory basis, creating opportunities for young people.

Mick Bates wants more powers over building regulations to promote sustainable building.

Jenny Randerson's LCO bid would give the powers to ensure people had to opt out of organ consent, rather than opt in - saving hundreds of lives.

Mike German wants the powers over local government finance which would enable the Assembly to scrap council tax.

Notes:

The following information on healthier school meals has been submitted in to the ballot.

Title of Measure: Healthier School Meals

Explanatory memorandum

The nutritional content of school meals has been a source of concern for some time. Feeding our children shouldn't be about putting the easiest and quickest food on their plates, it should be a vital part of feeding their appetite for learning and feeding their ability to learn.

This measure would introduce 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.

It would Place a duty on education authorities to ensure that meals provided at schools complies with nutritional regulations that ensure the provision of a meal that provides largely a third of a child's daily nutritional needs.

Allow education authorities to specify particular foods or drinks which fail to satisfy the nutritional regulations so that they can be banned from school premises.

This measure falls within matter 5.9 so is already within the legislative competence of the Assembly.

Consultation: Appetite for Life, a WAG report was subject to widespread consultation and many of its recommendations would be encompassed by this measure. The Scottish Executive/Parliament have introduced an Act which has significant overlap with this proposal and from which much could be learnt on the detail.