Sanders Calls for Torbay to be Free School Meal Pilot Area

Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement that one area in each UK region will benefit from free school meals for all, Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has raised the matter in Parliament and urged school’s Minister Diana Johnson to invite Torbay to participate.

Mr Sanders has argued that as well as providing healthy meals for children, the pilot would relieve the pressure on hard pressed local families.  He has written to the Minister, asking her to invite Torbay Council to participate in the new chain of pilots, one of which will operate in each UK region.

The extra funding was announced in last month’s Pre Budget Report.

Adrian said: “Unfortunately Torbay is a low wage area-anything that puts money back into the pockets of hard working families has got to be welcome.  Universal free school meals would obviously have an immediate financial boost for families and in the long term there could be many health benefits for children.”