National position on 'Feed the Kids Bill' disappointing

The ‘Community Campaign for Food in Schools’ is disappointed that National has said it will vote against the ‘Feed the Kids Bill’ when the Bill has its first reading, preventing the Bill from going to Select Committee for public consultation.

“The Bill provides an opportunity for parliament to debate a policy that would support the health and education of our nation’s poorest children and provide an opportunity for public comment and recommendations on food in schools. With public and political concern about the impact of poverty on children at an all-time high, food in schools is a practical and immediate response to the nutritional needs of small children,” says Deborah Morris-Travers, manager of Every Child Counts.

“The Bill, sponsored by the Mana Party, would provide for resourcing, coordination and monitoring of food in schools. We consider that a legislative framework would help ensure appropriate clarity around the minimum standards for food in schools and help ensure the sustainability of the programme,” says Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army.

“Children themselves are calling for government investment to provide more food in schools. Current food in schools programmes are operating without sufficient guidelines and with uncertainty around funding. Governments around the world provide food in schools to ensure a minimum nutritional intake for children. The ‘Feed the Kids Bill’ is an opportunity to explore how New Zealand could do the same,” says Deborah Morris-Travers of Every Child Counts.

“Debate about the Bill has been delayed until 10 July, providing National, United Future and the ACT Party an opportunity to reconsider their current opposition to the Bill.

“In the meantime, we hope the Budget will deliver additional resources for children in poverty and respond to the EAG Solutions to Child Poverty delivered to the government in December 2012. We will continue working with the government and all political parties to promote policies that reduce the impact of poverty on children, bring children’s voices to the debate, and contribute to public thinking about how food in schools can improve the wellbeing of children,” Ms Morris-Travers concluded.

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