Government pulls free school meals cash

Published: 11 June, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

NEW Education Secretary Michael Gove has pulled a £1.6million government grant intended to help pay for Islington’s free school meals for all policy.

But the Islington Labour Party – which made the free meals one of their key manifesto pledges – this week insisted they will not give up on the scheme and pledged to find other ways to pay for it.

Schools chief Councillor Richard Watts said: “We’re absolutely resolute in our determination to carry on.”

In an email sent to council officials on Monday, Mr Gove’s department said the Town Hall would no longer be granted the cash which was expected to pay for half of the total number of free meals in every primary school in the borough.

The grant was promised by Labour’s Ed Balls when he was Education Secretary.

Mr Balls told the Tribune on Wednesday: “This is a really bitter blow for teachers and pupils across Islington.”

Opposition Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry Stacy said Mr Balls’s promise was a pre-election ploy, which was never backed up by official paperwork.

He added: “The government wouldn’t confirm we had the money even before the election. It was typical Labour spin in making an announcement during the election campaign when it hasn’t been confirmed by the government.”

The email, which informed the council of the cuts, said: “The Secretary of State has announced today that he will not be providing central funding for pilots which were due to start this year. 

“We will therefore not be providing funds to your authority for this purpose. 

“Should you decide to go ahead with the pilot, without central funds, I would be grateful if you could let us know. We would be very interested to hear how it goes.”