Randerson gets grilling on healthy food measure

11.57.29am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th May 2008

Jenny Randerson visited many schools when writing her Measure.

Jenny Randerson's bill to make school meals in Wales healthier, has begun its next stage on the way to becoming the first Assembly Measure from an AM outside the government.

Mrs Randerson, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Cardiff Central, faced back-to-back questioning sessions from the Assembly's subordinate legislation committee, and the new committee scrutinising her proposed Measure.

Speaking after the committee meetings, Mrs Randerson said: "Since winning the first ballot to introduce a new Measure, I have spent a lot of time visiting schools to see best practice, meeting with organisations and individuals to discuss the best way to proceed with the Measure, so it's great that the measure is now taking its final shape and being looked at line-by-line.

"These new Assembly powers are being used for the first time, and I'm pleased that my proposal is being subject to such thorough scrutiny.

"If this Measure is to be effective, we need to make sure it is robust. There is widespread support for the principle of having healthier meals - but we have to make sure the Measure works and delivers what we want.

"This Measure is a real opportunity to introduce new nutritional standards for school meals, based on best practice and research, which would provide children with at least a third of their nutritional needs. Children's nutrition is something that needs urgently addressing if we are to deal with the twin dangers of obesity and poor health.

"I am glad that I have the opportunity of using the Assembly's new law-making powers to make a real difference to the future health of Wales, and equally pleased that AMs are taking their duty to scrutinise this proposal so seriously."

Ends/diwedd

Notes: Jenny Randerson will next be scrutinised by the Finance Committee on 12th June, where they will look at the funding and costs of the Measure.