By Denis Sheehan, Publisher, H&C News: School meals and Parliament meals, a universe of difference despite 7p rise for infants.
Image by Richard Townshend: Nadhim Zahawi, Secretary of State for Education
Nadhim Zahawi this week announced government is to increase funding for universal infant free school meals by 7p a pupil. This sees the free school meals allowance for all pupils in reception, year 1 and 2 go up from £2.34 to £2.41 a meal, backdated to 1 April 2022.
It is the second increase since the policy was introduced in 2014, the first increase was 4p.
The announced increase of 3% is alongside the Consumer Prices Index rising by 9% in the 12 months to April 2022.
So, the reality of the situation is that the government’s ‘increase’ of 3% to £2.41, is to pay for a meal that cost £2.34 in April 2021, that in April 2022 cost £2.55, now seeing school infants only 14p per meal worse off than they were two months ago.
Nadhim Zahawi said the rise would cost government £18 million.
In other news… £25 million continues to be spent subsidising meals and alcohol in Parliament.
OpenDemocracy this week reported that members of the House of Lords have complained about the quality of food and wine served in Parliament, which receives £25 million of government funding a year.
In letters and emails obtained by OpenDemocracy, members are getting rather vexed with service. Complaints include: “There are only so many smoked salmon or prawn and crayfish salads one can take week after week.” And “Both the Chardonnay and the Sauvignon Blanc are really poor quality… Can something be done?”
The full article can be read here. Warning you may find some of the hardships currently being endured in Parliament distressing, content includes graphic references to forced over indulgence in lettuce and a lack of granary bread.