Health on the menu

Mr Paice visited an Ely school on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into the quality of school meals in the district. City of Ely Community College invited Mr Paice to try one of its school meals after a recent initiative to improve pupils eatin

Mr Paice visited an Ely school on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into the quality of school meals in the district.

City of Ely Community College invited Mr Paice to try one of its school meals after a recent initiative to improve pupils' eating habits.

College principal Ian Gartshore said: "We are very pleased that we are increasing the number of children taking school meals and also increasing the number of healthy options," he said.

Mr Gartshore said the school's initiative, begun before the Jamie's School Dinners television series and the subsequent Government pledge for more funding, was prompted by the students themselves.

"We have a school council which was pushing for more pasta and salads," he said.

The visit follows a survey Mr Paice conducted last year, in which he asked schools if they felt the Government's pledge before the election to boost funding in school dinners was being delivered.

"I was impressed by the way the college has significantly improved the quality of lunches," Mr Paice said, "although I was sorry that the majority still bring in packed lunches of variable quality."

"Not one of the schools that responded to my recent survey believes the Government is doing enough to improve the quality of school dinners," he said.