Washington MP Sharon Hodgson was at Lambton Primary School to back the National Education Union's campaign for free school meals for all primary school children.
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00:00How important is it that the Prime Minister listens to this message?
00:03Very important. After all, children in London, thanks to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan,
00:10get free, hot, healthy school meals every day at primary schools.
00:14So, you know, he will see first-hand at his schools in his constituency
00:20and across the whole of London the benefit of all children in primary school getting a free school meal.
00:26And so, you know, I've lobbied him many, many times. He knows my views on this.
00:31That this is something that we really do have to look at when funding allows.
00:36And we all know there's a huge £22 billion black hole that we've inherited in the country's finances.
00:43But this would be paying forward for the future.
00:46Because if we feed these children now, not only does it help them learn better
00:52and, you know, therefore reach their full potential with a great education,
00:56but also it makes them healthier.
00:59They start, you know, understanding more about food and get a wider, you know,
01:05appreciation for all different types of food that then helps them in years to come.
01:10And the obesity crisis is costing this nation billions.
01:15So this is one way that we can tackle that by ensuring that children start learning
01:20to eat a healthier diet at a young age.
01:23I'm sure everyone agrees with the principle that all schools should be well fed
01:26and get a nutritious meal when they come to school.
01:28You've touched on it already with what you've been saying previously,
01:30but obviously some people will say the economy is struggling at the moment in terms of,
01:34you know, as you mentioned, the black hole the government's got to fill financially.
01:37So obviously some people may say that if parents can afford it then they should pay for their meals.
01:41So what would your response be to that?
01:43Well, there is a huge number of parents who just miss out.
01:46The minute you move into work, even if that's, you know, low-paid work, part-time,
01:51you will lose probably more than you're gaining from working if you've got two or three kids.
01:56It's worth about £500 to £600 per child, you know, getting fed in school.
02:02That's a lot of money.
02:03So all of those families who are struggling now, that would be a massive boost to, you know,
02:09their income and how they can stretch those finances.
02:12With regard to those who you say, well, they, you know, earn well,
02:15they can afford to, you know, to pay for their own kids' foods,
02:19I would point to things such as the NHS.
02:22NHS is, you know, free at the point of need.
02:25But also, if I was in a hospital bed, if anyone with, you know,
02:30who has a decent salary is in a hospital bed, I would get my lunch free.
02:35I'd get all my food in hospital free.
02:37In prisons, we don't mean test prisoners, they get their food free.
02:41There are lots of places where it's considered totally, you know, fine
02:46and reasonable for not to means test food.
02:50But for some reason, kids who don't work, you know, kids definitely haven't got a job,
02:55we means test their food in school.
02:58I know you would say, well, it's the parents who are actually being means tested,
03:01but it's the kids who are on the receiving end of that.
03:04In so many countries around the world, you know, I mentioned Sweden, but also India,
03:09there are so many African countries that are much poorer than us.
03:12We're the fifth, sixth richest economy in the world.
03:16If we can't afford to feed hungry kids and all kids in school,
03:20then there's something very wrong, especially when it'll pay forward huge savings
03:25over the rest of their life by being healthier and being better educated
03:30because hungry kids can't learn.