MP to meet minister over free school meal plan

MP Ian Byrne wants all primary children to be offered free school meals

A Merseyside MP is set to meet the education minister over a proposal to introduce free school meals for all primary children - and is pitching plans for a pilot.

MP Ian Byrne has repeatedly called on the government to introduce universal free school meals and wants a trial scheme to take place in Knowsley.

The MP for Liverpool West Derby represents two wards in the area, which has the highest child obesity rates in England.

Education Minister Stephen Morgan has agreed to meet Mr Byrnes after he raised the issue in parliament on Monday.

He said Knowsley would be the "perfect test bed" for a pilot scheme.

Mr Morgan said more than 13,000 pupils in Knowsley were already supported with free school meals and universal free school meals for infants.

Mr Byrne said free nutritious meals would "make a real difference to children's lives"

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Mr Byrne said the meeting would be a "great opportunity" and he hoped the government would commit to a test scheme.

"It can make such a real difference to children's lives, to the economy, to money in people's pockets and in parents pockets," he said.

"Its something I've been pushing for a long time.

"This is a perfect place to do it because Knowsley has some of the highest rates of deprivation and obesity and has got a fantastic director of public health, Sarah McNulty.

"I hope the government commit to looking at the idea and see how we can work to move it forward."

All children in England get a free school meal up to Year 2 and families can apply for free school meals but only if they live in a household which receives income-related benefits.