Coalition brought in free meals

Dear Sir,

Further to your piece on free school meals on p18 of this week's Chronicle, perhaps Coun Sam Corcoran could give some credit where it is due.

The free schools programme introduced by the coalition government formed in 2010 was the work of the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Nick Clegg and gave them to all infant, four to seven-year-old pupils.

The intention was to expand this to all primary school pupils but instead the Conservative Government is seeking to introduce means testing, as referred to in the article and instead give free breakfasts to selected children.

Though means testing these initiatives sounds great, in practice it introduces a measure of social stigma and the take-up among those eligible falls.

This might be okay if the primary purpose is to save money but to encourage all those who would universal.

There is the additional issue that one hungry child can disrupt a whole classroom, thus abolishing it is intended.

Your faithfully,

(DR) PETER HIRST

Middlewich