The STUC

Scottish Trades Union Congress

STUC Response to Consultation on the Schools (Nutrition and Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill

1 Introduction

1.1 The STUC is Scotland’s Trade Union Centre. Its purpose is to co-ordinate, develop and articulate the views and policies of the trade union movement in Scotland reflecting the aspirations of trade unionists as workers and citizens.

1.2 The STUC represents around 630,000 working people and their families throughout Scotland. It speaks for trade union members in and out of work, in the community and in the workplace. Our affiliated organisations have interest in all sectors of the economy. The STUC’s affiliates represent thousands of workers in Scotland’s schools in both teaching and support staff roles, including thousands of school meals staff.

1.3 Our representative structures are constructed to take account of the specific views of women members, young members, black and minority ethnic members, LGBT members, and members with a disability, as well as retired and unemployed workers.

1.4 We welcome the opportunity to respond to the consultation on the Schools (Nutrition and Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill. This response should be considered as on behalf of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. The STUC is happy to have this response, name and contact details made available to others.

1.5 The STUC welcomes the Schools (Nutrition and Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill and agrees its general principles. However, we believe that it does not go far enough; the STUC strongly favours the provision of universal nutritious, free school meals.

Specific Consultation Questions

1. Do you agree that local authorities should be under a duty to ensure that food and drinks which they provide in their schools, including nurseries, meet defined nutrient standards?

The STUC agrees that local authorities should be under a duty to ensure that food and drinks which they provide in their schools meet defined nutrient standards.

1. Where children are attending independent schools, and where the provision of food and drinks are arranged or funded by a local authority, should the food and drinks meet defined nutrient standards?

The STUC agrees that where children are attending independent schools when the provision of food and drinks are arranged or funded by a local authority, the food and drinks meet defined nutrient demands.

1. Should local authorities be under a duty to promote uptake of school meals in their schools, including free school meals?

We agree that local authorities should be under a duty to promote uptake of school meal in their schools, including free school meals.

1. Should local authorities be under a duty to ensure that those taking free school meals can do so anonymously, as far as practicable?

Many local authorities have recognised the issue of stigma - and the possibilities of bullying between children over meals status – and introduced cash-less schemes with swipe cards in an attempt to create anonymity. Experience has shown, however, that it is difficult to get away from the fact that children receiving free meals have less on their swipe cards and children are still aware of these differences.

1. Should local authorities have the power to provide children in local authority schools with free drinks, fruit, vegetables, bread or cereal-based snacks, which meet defined nutrient standards?

We agree that local authorities should have the power to provide children in local authority schools with free drinks, fruit, vegetables, bread or cereal-based snacks which meet defined nutrient standards.

1. Should there be a duty on Scottish Ministers and local authorities to endeavour to ensure that all local authority schools are health promoting schools?

The STUC agrees that there should be a duty on Scottish Ministers and local authorities to endeavour to ensure that all local authority schools are health promoting schools.

Other comments

Universal Free School Meals

While the STUC agrees with the general principles of the Schools (Nutrition and Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill, we do not feel that it goes far enough. The STUC is strongly in favour of universal free nutritious school meals. We believe that all children have the same rights and that the provision of free, nutritious school meals should be universal for all children and young people of school age.

STUC August 2006