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Councils criticised over free fruit failures

Less than a third of East Coast primary pupils are receiving free fruit above primary two age, despite a national drive to extend the scheme.

10 November 2009 12:07 GMT

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Councils criticised over free fruit failures

The majority of schools in east central Scotland are failing to provide free fruit to kids over primary two age.

The Scottish Government wanted the scheme to be extended through every primary in Scotland as part of a national heathy eating drive.

However, figures released to Mid-Scotland and Fife Labour MSP Claire Baker revealed that just 26% of primary school pupils in Fife are getting free fruit.

Ms Baker said: "The SNP are failing Fife once again. In their manifesto they promised to give free fruit to all primary school children and in Fife they haven't.

"I am concerned that children in Fife, particularly from low-income families, are losing out and will therefore be writing to the Council to ensure that children who need it do not miss out on the free fruit they were promised. I'll also be asking how long it will take for them to meet the promise they made to all primary children and parents in Fife."

However, figures for east central Scotland show that few councils are faring better.

In the city of Edinburgh, just 23% of schools have extended the scheme, while East Lothian matches Fife on 26%.

The figure is slightly better in Midlothian, with 30% of primaries offering free fruit to older pupils.

However, pupils in West Lothian are better off, with 100% of the region's schools having extended the scheme beyond primary two.
 

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