Randerson's law will make school meals healthier

5.17.07pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Jun 2007

Jenny Randerson makes history

Jenny Randerson has won the ballot of AMs and will now become the first backbencher to put forward a law under the Assembly's new powers.

Cardiff Central AM Mrs Randerson and her Welsh Liberal Democrat colleagues had all put the same proposal in to the ballot. The new measures will ensure pupils receive healthier school meals.

Jenny Randerson said: "I'm delighted to have won the first ballot and to have the opportunity to put forward this measure to improve the quality of the food our children eat.

"My measure will 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.

"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."

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 Welsh Liberal Democrats decided to submit this as a potential Assembly Measure. I'm delighted Jenny has won the ballot and will now have the chance to put this in to Welsh law."

Notes:

The following information on healthier school meals was 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.

Ends/diwedd

For more information contact Gareth Price on 029 2089 8426

Release/Rhyddhau: 26/06/2007