Free School Meals
Sep 17th 2013, 5:57 pm
#1
Hit 16's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Free School Meals
The UK is broke. So let's spend £600 million on giving free school meals to all children aged 5-7, including those of families who don't need financial support.
Every child in an English infant school will be eligible for a free school meal under a £600 million plan announced by Nick Clegg.
The Deputy Prime Minister has made the scheme, which will save parents about £437 a year for each child, the key announcement of the Liberal Democrats' conference in Glasgow.
"Universal free school meals will help give every child the chance in life that they deserve, building a stronger economy and fairer society."
That's the key announcement? FFS.
http://t.money.uk.msn.com/news/clegg...ool-meals-plan
Every child in an English infant school will be eligible for a free school meal under a £600 million plan announced by Nick Clegg.
The Deputy Prime Minister has made the scheme, which will save parents about £437 a year for each child, the key announcement of the Liberal Democrats' conference in Glasgow.
"Universal free school meals will help give every child the chance in life that they deserve, building a stronger economy and fairer society."
That's the key announcement? FFS.
http://t.money.uk.msn.com/news/clegg...ool-meals-plan
Sep 17th 2013, 8:16 pm
#2
Nothing doin' here
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,508
Re: Free School Meals
It's a little worrying that that is the key announcement, surely reducing the national debt would be a few notches higher. To be fair 600m is nothing in the scheme of things.
It could actually work, but unfortunately it won't little fifi and d'wayne will still end up on benefits, and expect the state to subsidise them even more. And why shouldn't they? It's what the state does.
Me, I'd eliminate all payments from the state apart from to those who have paid all to date of their national insurance payments (which would mean I's get zero btw).
And to hell with the human rights bollocks. They can starve too - Darwin's evolution and all that.
(Waves to Meow)....
It could actually work, but unfortunately it won't little fifi and d'wayne will still end up on benefits, and expect the state to subsidise them even more. And why shouldn't they? It's what the state does.
Me, I'd eliminate all payments from the state apart from to those who have paid all to date of their national insurance payments (which would mean I's get zero btw).
And to hell with the human rights bollocks. They can starve too - Darwin's evolution and all that.
(Waves to Meow)....
Last edited by Kix; Sep 17th 2013 at 8:20 pm.
Sep 17th 2013, 9:01 pm
#3
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Re: Free School Meals
It's a little worrying that that is the key announcement, surely reducing the national debt would be a few notches higher. To be fair 600m is nothing in the scheme of things.
It could actually work, but unfortunately it won't little fifi and d'wayne will still end up on benefits, and expect the state to subsidise them even more. And why shouldn't they? It's what the state does.
Me, I'd eliminate all payments from the state apart from to those who have paid all to date of their national insurance payments (which would mean I's get zero btw).
And to hell with the human rights bollocks. They can starve too - Darwin's evolution and all that.
(Waves to Meow)....
It could actually work, but unfortunately it won't little fifi and d'wayne will still end up on benefits, and expect the state to subsidise them even more. And why shouldn't they? It's what the state does.
Me, I'd eliminate all payments from the state apart from to those who have paid all to date of their national insurance payments (which would mean I's get zero btw).
And to hell with the human rights bollocks. They can starve too - Darwin's evolution and all that.
(Waves to Meow)....
Sep 18th 2013, 3:38 am
#4
**** it we'll do it live
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 7,892
Re: Free School Meals
In the grand scheme of things 600 million is chump change. Christ if they make vodaphone pay its back taxes they have almost covered it twice over.
Forget saving families money ( which is a good thing anyway) there is increasing eveidence that huge numbers of kids receive poor to no food at home before school this will at least ensure that they get one good meal a day, provided of course that they aren't served a load of shite at school.
Given that and the future cost to the nation of all these ill fed people it would be easy to make a case that this will probably save the nation money in the long run.
While they are at it can we bring back free milk in schools, full fat of course.
The government gets to legislate what happens to kids in school so why no use that power to not only educate the future tax payers but to ensure that the are healthy and fit and can contribute to the national economy for as long as possible.
Forget saving families money ( which is a good thing anyway) there is increasing eveidence that huge numbers of kids receive poor to no food at home before school this will at least ensure that they get one good meal a day, provided of course that they aren't served a load of shite at school.
Given that and the future cost to the nation of all these ill fed people it would be easy to make a case that this will probably save the nation money in the long run.
While they are at it can we bring back free milk in schools, full fat of course.
The government gets to legislate what happens to kids in school so why no use that power to not only educate the future tax payers but to ensure that the are healthy and fit and can contribute to the national economy for as long as possible.
Last edited by shiva; Sep 18th 2013 at 3:41 am.
Sep 18th 2013, 5:11 am
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Downtown, Dubai
Posts: 782
Re: Free School Meals
The Lib Dems are scrambling to find their identity, but this is such an unbelievable weak headline policy.
And, IMO, many of the financial problems in the UK have been caused by the attitude that £600m is ‘chump change’…
Rough calculations on this –
• 2.2m children in the UK aged between 5 and 7.
• 190 school days per year.
• Equates to 418m ‘free’ school meals per year.
• Budget of £600m per year, equates to per meal of £1.44.
• If approximately one third of the cost is on non-food overheads that leaves £0.95 per child per day to feed each child.
• In 2012 the average price of a school meal in England was £1.98 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18873020)
Might be a good time to invest in the manufacturers of Turkey Twizzlers, cheap beans and tatties waffles.
And, IMO, many of the financial problems in the UK have been caused by the attitude that £600m is ‘chump change’…
Rough calculations on this –
• 2.2m children in the UK aged between 5 and 7.
• 190 school days per year.
• Equates to 418m ‘free’ school meals per year.
• Budget of £600m per year, equates to per meal of £1.44.
• If approximately one third of the cost is on non-food overheads that leaves £0.95 per child per day to feed each child.
• In 2012 the average price of a school meal in England was £1.98 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18873020)
Might be a good time to invest in the manufacturers of Turkey Twizzlers, cheap beans and tatties waffles.
Sep 18th 2013, 6:29 am
#6
Hit 16's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Free School Meals
You've fallen for the hype.
Sep 18th 2013, 6:33 am
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Free School Meals
600m quid isn't pocket change in other arenas...it could build probably 24 new schools at 25m a pop. Or a half decent sized hospital....
Great point, kids don't always get proper meals at home, this is a good way to combat it in those funny years before big school time.
I was made to eat cereal before leaving the house and always got a proper dinner (although for years it was vegetarian because Mummy Scamp doesn't get on well with meat...cue jokes).
THe amount of kids at my secondary school who would come for lunch with less than 50p amazed me. What the **** were they meant to eat to get them through the day? mental.
In the grand scheme of things 600 million is chump change. Christ if they make vodaphone pay its back taxes they have almost covered it twice over.
Forget saving families money ( which is a good thing anyway) there is increasing eveidence that huge numbers of kids receive poor to no food at home before school this will at least ensure that they get one good meal a day, provided of course that they aren't served a load of shite at school.
Given that and the future cost to the nation of all these ill fed people it would be easy to make a case that this will probably save the nation money in the long run.
While they are at it can we bring back free milk in schools, full fat of course.
The government gets to legislate what happens to kids in school so why no use that power to not only educate the future tax payers but to ensure that the are healthy and fit and can contribute to the national economy for as long as possible.
Forget saving families money ( which is a good thing anyway) there is increasing eveidence that huge numbers of kids receive poor to no food at home before school this will at least ensure that they get one good meal a day, provided of course that they aren't served a load of shite at school.
Given that and the future cost to the nation of all these ill fed people it would be easy to make a case that this will probably save the nation money in the long run.
While they are at it can we bring back free milk in schools, full fat of course.
The government gets to legislate what happens to kids in school so why no use that power to not only educate the future tax payers but to ensure that the are healthy and fit and can contribute to the national economy for as long as possible.
I was made to eat cereal before leaving the house and always got a proper dinner (although for years it was vegetarian because Mummy Scamp doesn't get on well with meat...cue jokes).
THe amount of kids at my secondary school who would come for lunch with less than 50p amazed me. What the **** were they meant to eat to get them through the day? mental.
Sep 18th 2013, 6:48 am
#8
**** it we'll do it live
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 7,892
Re: Free School Meals
Personally I'd go further and integrate it as a whole campaign focused not just on a free meal but a whole policy of healthy eating and enforced school exercise.
A massive sea change is needed and very soon.
Sep 18th 2013, 6:51 am
#9
**** it we'll do it live
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 7,892
Re: Free School Meals
The Lib Dems are scrambling to find their identity, but this is such an unbelievable weak headline policy.
And, IMO, many of the financial problems in the UK have been caused by the attitude that £600m is ‘chump change’…
Rough calculations on this –
• 2.2m children in the UK aged between 5 and 7.
• 190 school days per year.
• Equates to 418m ‘free’ school meals per year.
• Budget of £600m per year, equates to per meal of £1.44.
• If approximately one third of the cost is on non-food overheads that leaves £0.95 per child per day to feed each child.
• In 2012 the average price of a school meal in England was £1.98 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18873020)
Might be a good time to invest in the manufacturers of Turkey Twizzlers, cheap beans and tatties waffles.
And, IMO, many of the financial problems in the UK have been caused by the attitude that £600m is ‘chump change’…
Rough calculations on this –
• 2.2m children in the UK aged between 5 and 7.
• 190 school days per year.
• Equates to 418m ‘free’ school meals per year.
• Budget of £600m per year, equates to per meal of £1.44.
• If approximately one third of the cost is on non-food overheads that leaves £0.95 per child per day to feed each child.
• In 2012 the average price of a school meal in England was £1.98 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18873020)
Might be a good time to invest in the manufacturers of Turkey Twizzlers, cheap beans and tatties waffles.
Sep 18th 2013, 7:02 am
#10
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: Free School Meals
Not hype at all, numerous studies point to an impending disaster in the health of the nation and its massive costs. We also know that early nutrition is vital to long term health and disease prevalence .
Personally I'd go further and integrate it as a whole campaign focused not just on a free meal but a whole policy of healthy eating and enforced school exercise.
A massive sea change is needed and very soon.
Personally I'd go further and integrate it as a whole campaign focused not just on a free meal but a whole policy of healthy eating and enforced school exercise.
A massive sea change is needed and very soon.
It's an appalling state of affairs if there are that many children that need proper feeing that this is seen as the only solution.
Sep 18th 2013, 7:05 am
#11
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Free School Meals
Whilst I largely agree, surely the raising of children and therefore their nutrition is a parental responsibility, not that of the state's? (Setting aside the adage that it takes a village to raise a child.)
It's an appalling state of affairs if there are that many children that need proper feeing that this is seen as the only solution.
It's an appalling state of affairs if there are that many children that need proper feeing that this is seen as the only solution.
That being said, I know exactly how difficult it can be for a Mum or Dad on their own to work full time and then come home and cook / prepare a proper dinner.
Sep 18th 2013, 7:06 am
#12
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Re: Free School Meals
Whilst I largely agree, surely the raising of children and therefore their nutrition is a parental responsibility, not that of the state's? (Setting aside the adage that it takes a village to raise a child.)
It's an appalling state of affairs if there are that many children that need proper feeing that this is seen as the only solution.
It's an appalling state of affairs if there are that many children that need proper feeing that this is seen as the only solution.
Sep 18th 2013, 7:08 am
#13
Hit 16's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Free School Meals
Not hype at all, numerous studies point to an impending disaster in the health of the nation and its massive costs. We also know that early nutrition is vital to long term health and disease prevalence .
Personally I'd go further and integrate it as a whole campaign focused not just on a free meal but a whole policy of healthy eating and enforced school exercise.
A massive sea change is needed and very soon.
Personally I'd go further and integrate it as a whole campaign focused not just on a free meal but a whole policy of healthy eating and enforced school exercise.
A massive sea change is needed and very soon.
The government and the press sucker the nation into believing what is healthy, yet its largely bollocks. Scamp's mum fed him cereal in the sanctioned belief that its healthy: actually its primarily salt and sugar, a fine start to the day. 5-a-day? The health profession knows it should be 11-15, but nobody had or has the balls to take the bull by the horns. Jamie had the right idea, but needed more support.
I agree about the sea change, but all this is do is pissing in a bucket.
Sep 18th 2013, 7:11 am
#14
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Re: Free School Meals
No shit. You've really fallen for the hype. 5 average meals a week will have ****-all impact. Actually, probably worse than average in terms of nutrition and fostering good habits--and are those 5 meals, even if they're excellent, really going to foster good habits when Dwayne and Tracey at home feed him frozen chips and chicken nuggets?
The government and the press sucker the nation into believing what is healthy, yet its largely bollocks. Scamp's mum fed him cereal in the sanctioned belief that its healthy: actually its primarily salt and sugar, a fine start to the day. 5-a-day? The health profession knows it should be 11-15, but nobody had or has the balls to take the bull by the horns. Jamie had the right idea, but needed more support.
I agree about the sea change, but all this is do is pissing in a bucket.
The government and the press sucker the nation into believing what is healthy, yet its largely bollocks. Scamp's mum fed him cereal in the sanctioned belief that its healthy: actually its primarily salt and sugar, a fine start to the day. 5-a-day? The health profession knows it should be 11-15, but nobody had or has the balls to take the bull by the horns. Jamie had the right idea, but needed more support.
I agree about the sea change, but all this is do is pissing in a bucket.
Sep 18th 2013, 7:16 am
#15
Hit 16's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Free School Meals
Fair point. I haven't had my coffee yet this morning.