Stigma of free meals

Published: 26th March, 2010

• Lib Dem attacks on Labour’s policy of free school meals for all cannot go unanswered.
Any system of free school meal provision that depends on parents’ income unfortunately stigmatises those pupils claiming the benefit. Research has shown that a shocking proportion of pupils entitled to free meals do not take up the offer because of this stigma. There’s nothing fair about allowing these divisions to continue in our schools.
I get the feeling the Lib Dems have become scared of new ideas.
JACK GRAVES
Noel Road, N1