'Free school meals for all would be a vote winner', says GMB union

This notion would build on the universal free school meal pilot schemes in Scotland and those in Durham and Newham. Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary speaking from the Labour Conference said: "There are five good reasons why universal free school meals should be introduced for all nursery and primary children. First, healthy food is needed to fight obesity. Second, a hot meal at lunch time helps pupils learn better in the afternoon. Third, a universal service would remove the stigma poor children face. Fourth, it would provide much needed help for hard pressed family budgets. A family with two children could be supported to the tune of £25 a week which is the current cost of school dinners. Fifth, providing free school meals for all would create jobs in the middle of this severe recession." Kenny added that the pilot schemes have proven popular with parents, children and teachers. They described the idea as a "popular measure" that would bring "core voters" back to the Labour party. The GMB said the cost of providing universal free school meals at £500 million could be funded by closing down tax havens and clamping down on tax evasion. Today, also sees the release of new statistics that show regional eligibility for free school meals. In London 130,350 pupils take free school meals. With 23.7% of all pupils known to be eligible for free school meals that puts London at the top of the UK regional league for the percentage eligible. In the South East 10.1% of all pupils are eligible for free school meals, the lowest of any region of the UK. The figures for each region in the UK are shown in the table below: number of pupils taking FSM% known to be eligible for FSM England558,59016% London130,35024% North East36,02020% West Midlands73,86019% North West92,57019% Scotland62,05817% Northern Ireland26,99617% Wales44,08317% Yorkshire & Humber58,67016% East Midlands38,70013% South West34,79011% East41, 42011% South East52,21010% England