The Scottish Socialist Party Bill to provide "a free and nutritious meal to all school pupils" is receiving widespread support across Scotland. In recent weeks the STUC voted unanimously at its conference to back the bill, Other supporters include the BMA, Child Poverty Action, the Scottish Churches, UNISON and even the Sunday Herald. The Bill would impose a duty on local authorities to provide a free nutritious meal and a drink to all pupils. It cuts across the rapidly-gaining burger culture in many Scottish schools where meal provision has been privatised, water costs more than a fizzy drink and those children who do take meals are mainly faced with fries and burgers with few healthy • Most poverty and health professionals have identified this as the one single action which would have the biggest impact on children's and later adults' health. Although some pupils are eligible for free meals, there is still a stigma attached to this and take up of the provision is very low.
The SSP has been holding meetings across Scotland promoting the Bill. These have been well attended and there is real support for the measure from teachers and parents. On May I a nationwide petition was organised with, SSP members setting up stalls in most towns across Scotland. At my local stall we had queues waiting to sign the whole time we were there. Although most of Scotland supports the Bill, in Parliament there is opposition to the costs. It is estimated the measure would cost £174 million. The only parties committed to its support are the SSP and the Greens although some SNP members back the bill, as well as Labour MSP John McAllion. Despite this pressure is being brought to bear. The SNP are currently fence sitting, but they will suffer if they publicly oppose the bill and may eventually support it. An alliance very like that which successfully got backing for the abolition of warrant sales is building up.
The key parliamentary votes are expected in June, however, it is conceivable that procedural manouvres could delay its presentation. With this Bill, the SSP has yet again identified a cause - free school meals - where the status quo is Veronica Fagan The outrage Blunkett's outrageous "swamping" speech has spurred many teachers and health workers to action, to prove how isolated he is in his views and to leech the poison his Culoulaze.
Teachers and health workers in the East London Borough of Tower Hamlets together a petition, teachers in Brent.
The majority involved are people who work with large numbers of asylum seekers, who have heard first hand the situations from which children are fleeing in their countries of birth and are furious at this attack on them.
They are also sure that, far from being a way to undercut for the whether in the shape of Nick Griffin or Le Pen, policies like these are the way to give them crecence The Tower Hamlets petition reads:
" WA protest at Blunkett's recent that asylum "swamping" schools and health services and that "legitimate" concerns over asvlum seekers Anti-racism David words can also put as have of those are boosting the vote for nazi organisations.
far-right, Our health service and school system are indeed over burdened — by 25 years of underfunding! Asylum seekers are not the reason why there are not enough teachers, and doctors. David Nor are they to blame for crumbling school seekers are and the long hospital waiting lists. Indeed refugees make a positive contribution to mainstream services, Blunkett's call for segregated education and health care has angered many working in schools, colleges and universities and the NHS. We aute appalled that blame for the failures of dispersal policy is laid on frightened children and sick asylum seekers.
nurses We demand that the human right to live within societynot separated and segregated— buildings be applied to all children. It is not possible to provide rounded education for children in segregated centres. We note the conincluding cerns of the cross party MSPs who recently visited Dungavel centre and reported that children get only a limited education and are being damaged by the conditions in which they are held.
We demand that the policy of detention and separate schooling be immediately dropped."
Newham NU1 have circulated the following official petition:
We, the undersigned, are children, students, teachers and parents We condemn the comments made by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, that educating refugee children in local schools would lead to them being "swamped".
We oppose the Government's plans that asylum - seeking children should receive sepathe rate education in accommodation and detention centres.
We say our schools are for ALL children and ALL refugee children are welcome".
Others should follow suit -and also do what Brent campaigners have done in writing to the local paper making clear that there is significant opposition to Blunkett's pernicious racisa