Washington MP backs campaign for free school meals for all primary school children

Sunderland Echo

Washington MP Sharon Hodgson was at Lambton Primary School to back the National Education Union's campaign for free school meals for all primary school children.

Transcript

00:00How important is it that the Prime Minister listens to this message?

00:03Very important. After all, children in London, thanks to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan,

00:10get free, hot, healthy school meals every day at primary schools.

00:14So, you know, he will see first-hand at his schools in his constituency

00:20and across the whole of London the benefit of all children in primary school getting a free school meal.

00:26And so, you know, I've lobbied him many, many times. He knows my views on this.

00:31That this is something that we really do have to look at when funding allows.

00:36And we all know there's a huge £22 billion black hole that we've inherited in the country's finances.

00:43But this would be paying forward for the future.

00:46Because if we feed these children now, not only does it help them learn better

00:52and, you know, therefore reach their full potential with a great education,

00:56but also it makes them healthier.

00:59They start, you know, understanding more about food and get a wider, you know,

01:05appreciation for all different types of food that then helps them in years to come.

01:10And the obesity crisis is costing this nation billions.

01:15So this is one way that we can tackle that by ensuring that children start learning

01:20to eat a healthier diet at a young age.

01:23I'm sure everyone agrees with the principle that all schools should be well fed

01:26and get a nutritious meal when they come to school.

01:28You've touched on it already with what you've been saying previously,

01:30but obviously some people will say the economy is struggling at the moment in terms of,

01:34you know, as you mentioned, the black hole the government's got to fill financially.

01:37So obviously some people may say that if parents can afford it then they should pay for their meals.

01:41So what would your response be to that?

01:43Well, there is a huge number of parents who just miss out.

01:46The minute you move into work, even if that's, you know, low-paid work, part-time,

01:51you will lose probably more than you're gaining from working if you've got two or three kids.

01:56It's worth about £500 to £600 per child, you know, getting fed in school.

02:02That's a lot of money.

02:03So all of those families who are struggling now, that would be a massive boost to, you know,

02:09their income and how they can stretch those finances.

02:12With regard to those who you say, well, they, you know, earn well,

02:15they can afford to, you know, to pay for their own kids' foods,

02:19I would point to things such as the NHS.

02:22NHS is, you know, free at the point of need.

02:25But also, if I was in a hospital bed, if anyone with, you know,

02:30who has a decent salary is in a hospital bed, I would get my lunch free.

02:35I'd get all my food in hospital free.

02:37In prisons, we don't mean test prisoners, they get their food free.

02:41There are lots of places where it's considered totally, you know, fine

02:46and reasonable for not to means test food.

02:50But for some reason, kids who don't work, you know, kids definitely haven't got a job,

02:55we means test their food in school.

02:58I know you would say, well, it's the parents who are actually being means tested,

03:01but it's the kids who are on the receiving end of that.

03:04In so many countries around the world, you know, I mentioned Sweden, but also India,

03:09there are so many African countries that are much poorer than us.

03:12We're the fifth, sixth richest economy in the world.

03:16If we can't afford to feed hungry kids and all kids in school,

03:20then there's something very wrong, especially when it'll pay forward huge savings

03:25over the rest of their life by being healthier and being better educated

03:30because hungry kids can't learn.

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