Feed our school children first, tackle dinner debts later

That was the stark message from Plaid Cymru councillor Carrie Harper, who also chairs Wrexham Council's Lifelong Learning scrutiny committee. The statement follows a letter being sent to parents of primary-school children from the council's Economy department stating that "we will not serve any meals to pupils whose accounts are in debt" when a new policy is implemented on the 5th November 2018.

Cllr Harper said: "This major policy change, as it's being described by the council, means that children as young as five could now be left hungry in our schools due to dinner account debts. It's appalling, particularly so given that the school meals service makes the council an annual profit of almost half a million pounds. I'm not aware of this issue being discussed by Councillors and it hasn't come to the committee I chair for any debate. 

"There are a wide variety of reasons as to why a parent might have a debt on their account but there certainly aren't many parents who wouldn't prioritise making sure their child has a hot meal. A growing number of local families, many of whom are working, are now struggling financially thanks to low wages, benefit cuts, Tory austerity and reducing entitlements to free school meals, making balancing all budgets more and more difficult for them.

"It may also be as simple as the parents not knowing their child's account is in deficit as the councils online system doesn't allow them to check the balance, or account credits not registering for several days". 

"I'm aware this policy is emerging in other councils too but that doesn't justify it. Of course we need to address the issue of debts on accounts but the underlying causes will vary on a case-by-case basis and it's immoral to do it by refusing a child their dinner.

"Let's think about the implications of this policy for a second. Could any of us honestly look a hungry child in the eye and refuse to give them dinner whilst their friends sit around them eating? I know I couldn't do it and we shouldn't be asking our school staff to implement this either. What sort of society do we want to live in when the wellbeing of our children is dictated by a few pounds on a dinner account? This new policy takes us in a very dark direction, the letter issued was also very blunt and has caused distress to parents who have contacted me. I was also surprised to learn the policy has already been implemented in our secondary schools and have queried what the impact has been.

"Yes we need to address the issue of debt on these accounts but children going without food should not be the solution. Feed children first, tackle the issue of debt later".

Cllr Harper has written to the Children's Commissioner seeking advice on the new policy in terms of wellbeing and its potential conflict with the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, she has also written to the Head of the council's Housing and Economy department who manage the shcool meals service to set out concerns.