Liz backs free fruit and veg for school children

10.32.13am GMT Thu 25th Jan 2007

Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands has welcomed plans unveiled by the European Commission to get free fruit and vegetables onto the lunch menus for tens of thousands of schoolchildren.

The plans which were announced yesterday, and which will need to be approved by both MEPs and EU governments also encourage children to eat more healthily.

Commenting on the move from Brussels, Liz said:

"Fruit and vegetables play a key role in a healthy diet. Regrettably, every day we see increasing evidence of a growing problem of obesity, particularly among the young.

"It is so important that we tackle this rise in obesity across Europe, and putting free fruit and vegetables on the tables of millions of schoolchildren would be a great way to start."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The plans have been announced as part of a shake-up of the Common Agricultural Policy, and will mean that farmers will be paid in full to deliver free produce to schools, holiday camps, hospitals, charities, prisons and old people's homes.