The Guardian - Kelly Stays Vague on School Food

Denying that she was climbing on the back of a bandwagon launched by chef Jamie Oliver, who has pushed the issue into the limelight with his TV show, she revealed that on her first day as education secretary she demanded action to improve school meals. [...] This document is available on the Education Policy Studies Laboratory website at: She pointed out that schools already have the powers to spend more on school meals than they currently do, but that it is for parents and governing bodies to set priorities. [...] He said: "It is very sad that a high profile TV series backed by a major celebrity and an imminent general election are required to get the government to focus on school meals." Pointing out that in France schools spend between £1.50 and £4 on the cost of meals, Mr Powell claimed: "Current standards are so weak they are not worth the paper they are written on." For their part, both the Conservativ. [...] The Food Standards Agency is currently working on detailed nutritional guidelines, so that the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom can in the meantime open talks with the food industry on a new voluntary code. [...] The election co-ordinator, Alan Milburn, said that the Labour party remained committed to the principle of halving the number of children in relative low income households by 2010- 11.