Arborbridge wrote:Mike88 wrote:The cynic in me thinks that free school meals frees up more money for scratch cards, cigarettes and booze. Are children really going hungry through lack of money or is it because parents are unable to budget choosing to spend benefit money on other things? Is it really the government's responsibility to feed children or is it the parents?
I don't remember such questions being asked - particularly not amongst the wealthy denizens of TLF - when we had "eat out to help out" which largely helped the middle classes who had money to spend.
We haven't raised all these pseudo moral issues during other financial interventions with the exception of disagreements here concerning Tesco paying its dividend.
If we can afford to give a subsidy to the middle classes and plough billions into businesses, why can't we raise a relatively small sum to help in what is clearly an urgent and real need? Not only that, I see it as just as valid way of stimulating the economy as these other interventions. The only difference is that we are helping the poor instead of the middle classes - but it's still benefitting everyone in the economy, particularly those in low paid jobs in the catering industry who are also struggling. In that sense, it is a no brainer - there are so many winners, yes: even the moaning middle benefit indirectly.
People who object do seem to be on the wrong side of the argument, and letting their class prejudice show.
PS Mike88 this not all aimed at you, but your post just sparked a series of thoughts
Arb.
I thought "Eat Out To Help Out" was aimed at saving the economy rather than it being because middle class folk needed subsidising so they could afford to eat at all.
I have not followed the debate at all but i think those objecting fear the extra money will just get spent on more booze and fags by feckless parents and the kids will still go hungry. Or is the proposal that money should be found to keep the school dinner kitchens open through the holidays, rather than giving more cash to the parents?
Do schools actually still actually have staffed kitchens and dining rooms?