With the quality of free school meal hampers high on the news agenda, Halton Borough Council is reassuring people that its school lunch packs are good quality and value for money.

The Council’s School Meals Service has so far produced 1,700 packs, each containing food for one child’s lunches for five days. The food items included, such as soups, beans, ham, bread, fruit and yogurt, are nutritionally balanced as recommended by LACA (Lead Association for Catering in Education) – the professional body for school meals providers.

The Council receives £12.50  from the Government for each hamper (five days’ school meals at £2.50 each).

Cllr Phil Harris, the Council’s portfolio holder for the school meals service, says:  “Our food packs are healthy, good quality and represent excellent value for money. I would like to thank the team who have put them together with care.”

The Government announced yesterday that Free School Meals vouchers will be available from Monday, so that families who prefer vouchers to make their own food purchases will be able to do so.

The Council will continue to provide lunch hampers for those who require them.