SCHOOL MEAL PRICE FROZEN FOR SECOND YEAR IN ROW

GWYNEDD Council will commission a study on paid school meals and how to encourage more families to use the service, following a decision to freeze the daily cost for a second year in a row.

Members voted not to go ahead with a recommended 10p hike to £2.60 a day after concerns were raised it would further hamper take-up, as well as hinder the council’s aim of ensuring more equality.

A 2019 cabinet report had found a decision in 2017 to hike the daily cost had achieved less savings than they’d hoped due to several families deciding to move away from school meals as a result. Figures from last year showed an average of 46% of Gwynedd primary pupils were choosing a school meal, down from 50% in 2016/17.

134 respondents to a council questionnaire filled out by 1,234 parents last autumn also said they weren’t taking up school lunches as it was too expensive, but that dropping the price would encourage 142 to choose school meals for their children.

Cllr Catrin Wager said: “Fundamentally I’m uncomfortable with the idea of an income target when it comes to school meals as it’s an incredibly sad statistic that one in three Welsh children are currently living in poverty. I feel that we need to tackle this as a society, as an authority we can also do all we can to ensure all children receive a hot and hearty meal at school.

“I understand that free school meals help many but not everyone as there are examples of families receiving working tax credits not being eligible for free meals despite being on low incomes and such a daily cost not necessarily being affordable.”