Perthshire Advertiser

Swinney is ‘welcome to try new school meals’

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On Tuesday, Mr Swinney had told the Scottish Parliament: “It causes me a great deal of concern because I think it undermines the quality of produce that is able to be delivered in individual schools. It also affects employment and sustainabi­lity in a number of localities.

“I do hope that the local authority reflects carefully on all of these questions as it comes to conclusion­s on this point, because from what I have seen I have no sufficient confidence in the arrangemen­ts that have been set out to justify the changes that are being made.”

The school meals will be cooked by Tayside Contracts’ staff in a central kitchen in Dundee, and the meals will then be frozen and shipped out to individual primary schools in Perth and Kinross, where they will be reheated.

It is hoped the move will save £200,000, but could also see up to 50 jobs being lost across the region.

Earlier this week, Green MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell, questioned Mr Swinney on the move in Holyrood as well.

Speaking after topical questions on Tuesday, February 19, Mr Ruskell said: “For most families the school meal is the cornerston­e of our children’s daily diet, and these meals need to reflect the well accepted dietary advice to cut down on processed food and increase the amount of freshly cooked meals heavy with good quality fruit and veg.

“This backwards step from Perth and Kinross Council however not only reduces the quality of the meals produced, but will see the removal of trained staff and well equipped kitchens in our schools, making it harder to reverse these changes in the future.

“The Scottish Government has been promoting healthy, locally focused catering through the ‘food for life’ programme.

“Neighbouri­ng councils like Stirling have used this programme to improve school meals provision and make links between schools and local farms, and this kind of approach could make a huge difference in Perth and Kinross. ”

Previously, a tasting session was held at the council’s headquarte­rs in Perth to allow members of the public to taste the frozen meals.

A second tasting session with pupils and parents will be held in due course. John Swinney MSP is unhappy with the move

I have no sufficient confidence in the arrangemen­ts that have been set out to justify the changes

 ??  ?? Concerns
Concerns

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