MP Russell's new challenge over school meals

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Apr 2007

Dinner plate

Colchester MP Bob Russell will in the House of Commons today (Thursday) be pursuing his campaign for hot school meals to be made available in every school for those children whose parents wish them to have a hot mid-day meal.

It was three years' ago this month that Conservative-controlled Essex County Council - using legislation introduced by the Labour Government - scrapped the county-wide schools meal service in Essex, for children up to the age of 11, which the County Council had provided. Secondary schools were already responsible for providing school meals.

Many primary, junior and infant schools over the past three years have made alternative provision to provide hot mid-day meals, but there are several schools which do not. This is generally because the school does not have the capacity nor the resources to do so.

And it is these schools which Liberal Democrat Mr Russell has in mind when today he will be challenging the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, during oral questions in the House of Commons. His question to the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP asks him "what plans he has to ensure that all schools provide hot meals?"

Mr Russell has previously challenged Prime Minister in the Commons over the scrapping of the school meals service in Essex.