Free Islington school meals scheme in doubt - Just weeks after Ed Balls pledges cash, Town Hall is warned election could scupper plans

Published: 30 April, 2010
by ROISIN GADELRAB

LABOUR’S controversial plan to give free school meals to every pupil in the borough has been thrown into jeopardy – by the very same government department that pledged to back it.
Less than a month after Education Minister Ed Balls paid a special visit to Islington to pledge £1.6million to fund half the cost of the scheme during a year-long pilot, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has backtracked.
Lib Dem council leader Terry Stacy received a letter this week blaming the uncertainty on the election.
A DCSF official wrote: “The election was called before we were able to issue the funding letter, we are now required to wait until after the election to receive ministerial clearance on future funding letters.”
It goes on to advise the Town Hall to continue to plan so the borough is ready to launch pilots in September “should the government wish to fund pilots”.
It added: “However, it is also possible that the government may choose not to commit central government funds to these pilots. Within the department we are planning for both eventualities.”
Mr Stacy, whose party has been advocating an alternative “fair school meals” scheme, said: “These are Labour weasel words. This money is not committed to Islington or to Labour’s free school meals project. The government is using Islington’s kids as political toys.”
But Labour leader Catherine West said: “The choice for voters is very clear. They can vote Labour in both the council and primary elections and free school meals will be guaranteed. If they vote Tory, or their friends in the Lib Dem party, then free school meals for all will be in jeopardy.”
Free school meals were introduced to all Islington primary schools this year, after Labour seized control of the council budget in February 2009.