Mark is scheduled to ask a question on free fruit in schools during Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow (Wed) and is also expected to take
part in Local Government questions today.
All four to six year-old schoolchildren currently receive free fruit every day in a scheme which is funded by the NHS. Mark asked a
parliamentary question last year to find out if the scheme would be extended to pre-school and older schoolchildren. He was told then there were no plans for an extension - but
he believes that it is important for all younger children to have this provision.
Harriet Harman is deputising for the Prime Minister. He will ask her to consider extending the scheme during Prime Minister’s Questions which
starts at midday.
Mark said: " My understanding is that some schools have chosen to extend the scheme using their allocation of Standards 5b funding - Targeted
School Meals Grant (2005/2008) to support this. However this funding ceases this month to be replaced by the new School Lunch Grant (2008/2011) which is targeted at the direct
costs of the school meal by the catering provider. This might mean that some schools will find it difficult to continue their funding of free fruit.
"I am concerned that the current voluntary extension of the scheme may be lost. Instead, I want the scheme extended to other younger children as it both
improves their health and establishes a valuable habit into later childhood and adulthood."
Today, Mark will ask a minister for an update on plans for an eco-town in South Derbyshire during Local Government questions which start at
230pm.
Mark has opposed the proposals for the Grovewood development, near Drakelow. Banks Developments is behind the plans for the 865-site, where all the homes
would be built using low-carbon and zero carbon technologies. Energy would be created through renewable sources such as wind turbines.
Opposition for the development has also come from villagers in Resisting, Drakelow, Cauldwell, Linton, Castle Gresley and
Walton-on-Trent.
He said "There has been no provision for housing on this site in any Local Plan. It is a particularly curious definition of sustainability which
seeks to justify such as development on the grounds that it will provide the basis for a new major road. The ideas presented should be applied to sites already set aside for development in our
area."
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