Sir — In reply to councillor Howson’s letter (Letters, August 7) concerning free school meals for all. I agree that every child needs, and deserves, a hot nourishing meal every day. The majority of the members of the recent Education Scrutiny Committee agreed that the new coalition government’s proposals had been introduced with indecent haste.

Monies provided by the Government to implement the scheme are probably insufficient and the County Council might find itself with a shortfall this year of £500,000 or more.

It is not just the cost of school meals but the provision of new kitchen equipment, kitchens and additional staff. Government funding is not guaranteed beyond 2015/16.

Any subsequent funding will be considered as part of the next spending review. The transfer of funding to free school meals may have a severe impact on funding for other very important school projects.

The policy for free school meals for 5 to 7-year-olds was implemented by several Labour councils in 2009. The Labour Party used the work done in Labour local authorities to inform its decision to continue to support free school meals. When these Labour councils first developed this policy, the Lib Dem Deputy Leader condemned it in a letter saying: “They are spending £15 million giving free school meals — some going to the borough’s richest families — irrespective of whether they can afford to pay for them already.” How times change!

The Labour Group on the County Council will be campaigning for all Oxfordshire schools to provide breakfast for children. A hungry child finds it difficult to settle to learn for the main part of the school day before lunch time. Research shows that providing a breakfast has an impact on the learning of children and it also impacts on a reduction in absences and lateness.

Perhaps Cllr Howson will support us with this campaign?

Cllr Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Education & County Councillor for Rose Hill and Littlemore