PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS (2 July 2006)

That this House notes the most recent research showing that childhood obesity threatens the health and academic attainment of young people throughout the United Kingdom, with major long-term cost implications in the National Health Service, illness-related welfare benefits and local authority services; acknowledges that the problem of childhood obesity extends beyond those on the lowest household income levels as defined by entitlement to means-tested benefits; believes that a more nutritious diet for schoolchildren has a central role in combating this public health problem; applauds Hull City Council's three-year pilot scheme, combining increased investment in healthier school food ingredients with the abolition of charges for primary school meals; observes that the resulting increase in the take-up of school meals from 36 per cent. to 64 per cent. indicates that universal free school meals is a particularly effective means of extending healthy eating to children in the areas of greatest deprivation; recognises Hull's `Eat Well, Do Well' scheme to be a nationally significant example of the local innovation encouraged in the Education and Inspections Act 2006; regrets that Hull City Council's new minority administration has expressed opposition to the free primary school meals scheme and has announced the reintroduction of schools meals charging for those not claiming means-tested benefits, without waiting to consider the final results in 2007 of their pilot scheme; fears that this action would reverse Hull's progress in increasing the take-up of healthy school meals; and joins the Child Poverty Action Group in urging Hull councillors to reconsider this decision.

Sponsored by:
Dame Diana Johnson (Labour)