Big firms still ripping off country’s needy

ONE of the more controversial aspects of the response to the pandemic is the ‘pork barrel’ bean feast that has occurred in the granting of multi-million pound contracts and leading roles to a small circle of suppliers and individuals (many close to members of the government).

Now we have the spectacle of meals provision for vulnerable schoolchildren at home outsourced to a firm, part of a multi-million pounds turnover global operator, that appears to be providing a paltry and unimaginative range of cheap foodstuffs, and of poor quality and value in some instances.

I am reminded of George Orwell’s observation in his memoir of living as an itinerant in the 1930s ( Down and Out in Paris and London – pubd. 1933 Gollancz) where tramps leaving the workhouse in the morning were furnished with a voucher worth a shilling (5p) that would be spent in local cafes.

As Orwell observed, in exchange for the coupon cafes would regularly only provide 9d (4p) of food, ripping off the tramps for a significant part of their public support.

It seems little has changed, save for the size of the organisations engaging in such sharp practice.

School dinners provided on the premises may not be held fondly in people’s memory but they were nutritionally balanced and wholesome.

It seems some contractors have even been including bottled water! I’m sure Council pop (tap water) would be more than adequate and much more environmentally friendly.

ALAN FIDLER,

North Shields