Free Lunches - A Good Idea?

[youngmafbog]

No I am going to surprise some on here I am sure but I agree with free lunches for all kids. It removes the social stigma and ensures that children eat at least one nutritious meal a day. In addition I believe it instills an important social ability; to be able to eat correctly in a public environment.

However, the funding aspect is an issue. In my opinion this should have been funded by a cut in child benefit, after all its 5 meals less a week the parent needs to provide.

Of course we should go further, means testing child benefit for the well off and no child benefit for anyone not working, instead providing decent nutritious food parcels from ADS/Lidel or whoever could deliver them competitively

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/no-such-thing-as-a-free-school-lunch-government-reckless-in-failing-to-provide-adequate-school-funds-9677179.html

[pixie373]

I agree, aog. We should get our own affairs in order first. I don't think we should be sending money abroad while we have homeless people here.

[Cloverjo]

Mamya and pixie, I'm trying to look it up now to check my facts, but it's not easy to navigate around the benefits website and find out what people will actually receive. I know for sure that what I said was true 20 years ago.
I also know the gov has decided on a basic amount that someone can live on, and any other money they receive will be taken off that amount before they're paid it. (Including CB I am sure....)
Mind you, when I was in that situation I applied for both benefits because I thought I was entitled to both and was surprised when my IS was reduced by the amount of CB.

[sherrardk]

Bit of a sweeping generalisation Baldric. At our primary you can't opt out, if your child doesn't want hot dinners they have to have a lunch box option. I would rather mine take food from home that I know they will eat. I am now in a situation of two having school dinner (and not the same thing as each other each day) and the others having packed lunch.

[pixie373]

It may well be true, cloverjo- the logic is there. I hadn't realised.

[anotheoldgit]

Some very strange answers from those who are forever keen to lambaste the late Baroness Thatcher when she (not strictly true) stopped free school milk.

[Mamyalynne]

Child Benefit does not affect other benefits.


http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/tax/benefits/child_benefit/9359.html

[Mamyalynne]

I feel the move is a good one overall simply because of the research and studies done in regards to the performance of children when they are fed well - of course by doing it across the board it does mean that better off parents will also get the monetary saving.

[pixie373]

Thanks mamya- that answers that one.

[Old_Geezer]

If the 'fed well' is a good excuse, then let it be funded not by general taxation but by parent taxation. Government's are quick enough to abuse scapegoat groups when they wish to demand tax, with not even a suspicion of feeling guilty about their bullying: whilst here is an opportunity to ask the right people for funding for something they benefit from, and should be funding anyway.

[Baldric]

First class idea OG!

[pixie373]

"Fed well" is also a matter of opinion. If my children were given cheap bulk food in the daytime, I would be less likely to do a proper meal in the evening. I think their diet would end up worse- plus I wouldn't know what or how much they were eating.

[pixie373]

And family mealtimes won't be so common, either. The more I think about it, the more I think it will do more harm than good.

[pixie373]

And also- a larger meal at lunchtime makes you sleepy afterwards, naturally. Not good for concentration. Breakfast clubs would be better. I'll shut up now:-)

[Mamyalynne]

I do agree it is contentious and I certainly hope they aren't filled with bulky stodge - although 3 of my 4 little ones can easily eat three meals a day and be fit as fiddles.

[Mamyalynne]

There are lots of Breakfast Clubs already - they are a good idea.

[pixie373]

They are- and they're optional and paid for by parents. Also useful for working parents.

[youngmafbog]

//then let it be funded not by general taxation but by parent taxation//

Like reduce child benefit ?

[New Judge]

Yes baldric, you're quite right. That's the plan. Now I read in today's paper that there are plans to make paid leave for grandparents a statutory right. There won't be too many people remaining who have to work soon - except people like you.

"if you are going to remove childbenefit then the child should have breakfast and a hot lunch and then a packup for the evening"

Why not go the whole hog and install a bed for each child at the school, provide some clothes for them, take them on holiday (during term time, natch), provide bathing and laundry facilities, take them to ballet lessons or football training. In fact, why not absolve the parents of all responsibility entirely and place the onus for their upbringing completely on the State (i.e. the taxpayer).

Children (feeding, watering, clothing thereof) are the responsibility of parents. If a school provides lunch it should be paid for. This stupid idea was another from Mr Clegg who often speaks before engaging brain.

"People who are on the basic amount of jobless benefits don't get Child Benefit anyway."

Yes they do, cloverjo. Child benefit is payable to everybody with children unless either (a) they are effected by the benefit cap (current total £500pw) or (b) one partner has an income of £50k or more. (CB for people with incomes over £50k are gradually reduced until a salary of £60k is reached, when it reduces to zero).

[anotheoldgit]

Remove all child benefit from those residing overseas.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9846029/1m-a-week-in-child-benefit-paid-to-children-living-overseas.html

[youngmafbog]

Totally see where you are coming from NJ but sometimes I think we have to take reality into account.

Unfortunately denizens of the feral underclass are not responsible enough to do this and for the sake of the kids I personally think it is beneficial to feed them one meal a day and also install table manners and sociability into them as I doubt such parents would do that either.

It is the funding which is the problem which is why I suggest all child benefit is reduced accordingly to pay for it.

We are only talking one meal a day in term time so the parents are not absolved from responsibility totally.