GMB WELCOMES THE NEWS THAT WOLVERHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE GIVEN FREE SCHOOL MEALS.

The GMB trade union welcomed the governments’ decision to declare Wolverhampton as one of the successful bidders for a two year pilot scheme which will give free school meals to all primary school children in the authority.

The government last year invited local authorities in deprived areas to bid to run the pilots, which are intended to gather evidence on the benefits of free school meals in cutting obesity and improving behaviour.

Wolverhampton will pilot an extension to the current eligibility criteria for free school meals. A further 7,800 pupils in Wolverhampton are expected to be able to claim free school meals as a result of the extension to the eligibility criteria, which will be based on household income

In welcoming the pilot Joe Morgan, GMB West Midlands Regional Secretary, said “The GMB have been campaigning long and hard for many years for the provision of free school meals for all school children, both in primary and secondary schools. This will ensure that children of families on low incomes or benefits receive a healthy nutritional meal and the stigma of receiving free school meals is removed by making it universal. This pilot is a welcome step in the right direction”.

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