Nigel Evans, Member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, today attended a parliamentary reception in support of National School Meals Week (NSMW). NSMW is the Education Catering Industry’s opportunity to showcase all that is "great" about school food. This year NSMW will fall on 4th to 8th November 2013 and the campaign seeks to ensure that every pupil in England and Wales has access to one free school lunch during that week.
Speaking from Westminster, Mr Evans said:
"The nutrition that children get from their meals is incredibly important for their development. It is also important to help their energy and concentration levels when they are at school.
"I do think that school meals have come a long way from the stereotype that many of us would still attribute to them. LACA, the voice of Education Catering Industry, is looking for government and private funding to help achieve their goal for this year’s National School Meals Week. If children can be encouraged to stay for a one free lunch in that week that is both tasty and nutritious then I think that it is a trial worth pursuing and I am more than happy to raise awareness of the week."