MSPs visit Drumchapel High School to discuss
schools nutrition proposals
CCOM003/2006 | 31 October 2006
MSPs heard the views of pupils, teachers and health co-ordinators |
MSPs joined pupils from Drumchapel High School for lunch today to hear their views on healthy eating.
Four members of the Scottish Parliament’s Communities Committee met teachers, health co-ordinators and pupils to discuss the principles behind the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill, currently being considered at Holyrood.
Photographs of the visit are available from the Scottish Parliament’s Media Relations Office by emailing: photography@scottish.parliament.uk or phoning Andrew Cowan on 0131 348 6269.
The committee is gathering views from various organisations as part of its scrutiny of the bill which aims to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles in schools, ensure all food and drink available to pupils meet set nutritional standards and increase the uptake of school meals.
Committee Convener, Karen Whitefield MSP, said:
"Drumchapel High School has wholeheartedly embraced the promotion of healthy lifestyle choices to its pupils. It became the first Secondary school in Glasgow to take part in a six-month pilot initiative offering free healthy breakfasts to pupils in a positive continuation of the work being achieved with Primary schools.
"Drumchapel also has new Fuel Zone which offers a range of healthy lunch choices.
"The feedback we received today from staff and, most importantly, pupils will help us understand how the Executive’s proposals to extend the promotion of healthy eating in schools might work in practice if parliament agrees to pass the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill.”
Patrick Harvie MSP, convener Karen Whitefield MSP, Scott Barrie MSP and Tricia Marwick MSP |
Following today’s meeting at Drumchapel High School, the Scottish Parliament’s Communities Committee will also visit a school in East Ayrshire, take evidence from pupils in Shetland by videoconference and hold a full, formal committee meeting in Airdrie.
As part of its scrutiny of the legislative proposals, the Communities Committee is seeking written evidence on the general principles of the bill, including:
- Overall objectives
- The duty to ensure that all schools are health-promoting
- Nutritional requirements of food and drink supplied in schools
- The application of nutritional requirements
- Provision of food and drink (within defined national standards) at any time of the day
- Promotion of school meals, in particular free school meals
- Protection of the identity of pupils receiving free school meals.
BACKGROUND NOTES
Members of the Communities Committee visiting Drumchapel High School were: Convener, Karen Whitefield MSP, Patrick Harvie MSP, Tricia Marwick MSP and Scott Barrie MSP.
The Scottish Executive introduced the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament on 8 September 2006. The Communities Committee is currently considering the general principles of the Bill at Stage 1 of the legislative process and began gathering oral evidence on 24 October.
A call for written evidence was published on 2 October with the closing date for submissions set for 6 November 2006. Evidence should be reasonably brief and typewritten. If possible, please submit responses by email to: communities.committee@scottish.parliament.uk.
Alternatively, responses can be submitted on computer disk in Word or plain text with a single additional copy to the Clerk to the Communities Committee, Room T3.40, Tower 2, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP.
The contact for members of the media is:
Elaine Mitchell: 0131 348 6245
E-mail : elaine.mitchell@scottish.parliament.uk
Communities Committee contact information
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0845 270 0152 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk
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