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Lib Dems: Free School Meals For 1.9m Children

Lib Dems: Free School Meals For 1.9m Children

Nick Clegg's wife joined him on the campaign trail as the Deputy Prime Minister promised every primary school child a free school meal if the Liberal Democrats get into government.

Miriam Gonzalez Durantez and her husband visited a school - appearing together in the final days of the campaign.

The school pledge would take the policy of meals for four to seven-year-olds up to age 11, benefiting 1.9 million children and the Lib Dems say saving the average family £400 per child a year.

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Mr Clegg, who has laid down education funding as a red line in any future coalition, says pilot studies have shown that introducing free school meals improves performance and leads to children eating more healthily.

He said: "Liberal Democrats want every child to have the best start in life. That's why I want every child to have a hot, healthy school lunch."

The move would cost £610m annually and would require an additional £100m of capital spending in the first few years for school adaptations.

But Mr Clegg insisted the policy is affordable, costed and worthwhile. It would be introduced in 2017-2018 "as resources allow" after the books have been balanced.

Justifying the spending the Lib Dems cited evidence that when free school meals were piloted, pupils were found to be on average two months ahead of their peers elsewhere.

Between 3% and 5% more children reached target levels in maths and English at Key Stage 1 and the biggest academic improvement was most marked among children from less affluent families.

Ms Gonzalez Durantez, who recently revealed she runs a food blog with her sons , has joined her husband to push healthy eating for youngsters before and has carried out solo appearances and interviews during the election campaign.