News from Sheffield Labour

Sheffield Labour backs free school meals pilot

The Government have recently invited Sheffield City Council to bid to join a unique pilot project which would provide all Sheffield primary school children with free school meals.

The Free School Meals pilot project would be run jointly between the Government and the Council, between September 2009 and July 2011. The scheme would receive a share of £20m from Government funding.

Labour is calling on the Council to hold urgent talks with the Health Service in Sheffield to investigate how Sheffield could benefit from this pilot.

Labour Leader Jan Wilson said:

“We have asked the Council’s Chief Executive to hold urgent discussions with the Chief Executive of the health service in Sheffield to see how the City could benefit from this pilot scheme.

“We hope the Lib Dem Council will bid for this funding. We want to make sure Sheffield children get the opportunity to benefit from this significant Government investment. I am happy to give any support I can to make sure that the bid is successful.”

Jan added:

“Sheffield is wholeheartedly committed to tackling childhood obesity and this Free School Meals project provides a huge chance to make progress in improving childhood health in our City. Obviously it would also significantly help all families of young children in Sheffield, who are currently feeling the pinch.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012
• Sheffield Lib Dems propose cuts to fuel poverty programme - 1 February 2012
• Sheffield Lib Dems exposed over 'merciless' opportunism on fortnightly collections - 1 February 2012