free school meals -except for the big four political parties. A vote for the SSP is a vote to put nutritious free school meals on the menu of Scotland's schools" says the party's literature. This is an issue that the SSP has fought on continuously for the last eight years. The campaign has succeeded in winning one major concession from the Executive which is the extension of the free meals to the children of families on Working Families Tax Credit. This could mean that between 70,000 - 93,000 more children from low income families will become entitled to free school meals.
There will be a final vote on March 14, in the days after we go to press, on the Executive's. Nutrition in Schools Bill and Frances Curran MSP will once again attempto to amend that bill to give all Scotland's schoolchildren a free, healthy meal every day.
Norman Lockhart, SSP member from Innerleithen is in the process of making a DVD to support the campaign and explains some of the findings of his research in the process.
Thirty years ago Finland had a health record as poor as Scotland. Then it started promoting free school meals to change the country's eating culture as well as exercise and better habits for adults. The change has been dramatic.
In Scotland, public health studies estimate that 60 per cent of the population will be diabetic in 10 years time. Already the treatment of diabetes costs 1 billion - more than a tenth of the total health budget.
But unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is genetically determined, Type 2 diabetes is a result of our lifestyle mainly diet and exercise. Nowadays 80% of diagnosed diabetics are type 2. Diabetes is a major part of the cause of adult blindness, strokes and heart
In France where there is still a culture of fresh food and cooked meals there is about one quarter of Scotland's incidence of childhood obesity which is another cause of much diabetes.
But in Scotland school playing fields and in communities are sold off by councils at bargain prices to developers who build private and unaffordable houses...
I recently talked to Dr David Player former Director General for the British Health Education Council. He played a major part in promoting the 'Black Report' commissioned in the 70s by a Labour government that was then suppressed by Thatcher's when it was published in 1979.
This was because it showed clearly and scientifically the links between health and class. Ten years later David wrote another study that showed there had been no significant change. He still thinks health is one of the most political indicators of the state of our society.
A young GP in a health centre in Edinburgh's working class estate of Craigmillar volunteered the view that FSM could be part of the start of a long-term change in culture that could make a real difference to the illnesses seen by the next generation of GPs.
She was particularly keen on emphasizing the incidence of type 2 diabetes brought on by the diet that children ate. Obesity is an obvious part of the problem's symptoms.
A much-heralded slogan used to be 'tough on crime tough on the causes of crime. But, she argued, there was no equivalent. commitment to tackle nutrition: "We are daily confronted with the visual evidence and consequences of bad and poor diets".
TV dinners and rushed pre prepared microwave snacks full of fats, sugar and little in the way of fresh vegetables.
Harassed working parents short on time who were already part of a generation that had not learnt to enjoy cooking or the different food values and nutrients that made up a balance meal or diet.
Life expectancy in working class Springburn, part of Glasgow, is now shorter than for Iraqis in Iraq never mind the affluent suburbs of nextdoor Bearsden.
Everyone will be aware their own local examples and this was recently reinforced for me when I visited Hull.
Hull may be best known as the city of the Deputy PM or for William Wilberforce's part in the fight against slavery but the university there has developed the research and practice that led to a then Labour council, introducing universal Free School Meals for primary schools over 3 years ago. This was in response to the fact that Hull had the worst health statistics in England.
There had been resistance. to so-called healthy food when it was originally introduced, however this was quickly overcome when the meals became free.
Now the Liberal council there is trying to take away FSM there is widespread opposition to losing the benefits already seen.
Prof Colquhoun, director of research at the Institute for Learning in Hull explained: "The schools are telling us that they are now calmer places and teachers are telling us that the children are ready to learn.'
The Institute itemizes the main benefits of FSM as health capital, education capital and social capital.
Hull research assistants referred to examples of children who did not know how to use a knife and fork and another who ate only chocolate for meals
Together with teachers, cooks and dining room staff they had introduced the main meal as part of the class time table in order to overcome the rushed meals sandwiched between playtime and classes. By tempting children to breakfast clubs they had eventually seen an improvement in attendance in contrast to reluctant hungry pupils for ner in the Lib Lab Exec, did not want that added embarrassment when they opposed the SSP's promotion of the FSM bill.
The Liberal majority of Hull council that has tried to withdraw the Free School Meals scheme despite some measured improvements had its decision overturned at a full meeting that seemed to recognise reports of calmer schools and better pupil grades.
When I visited several schools to film, I had the benefits of the repeatedly illustrated to me not just from what many senior teachers openly said but also by children eating in the relaxed company of their friends.
It all really gave a feeling of what can start to be achieved now by simple reforms, which might later with political will and real 'regime change' lay the foundation of revolutionary progress.
Our campaign in Scotland aimed at moving the Scottish Parliament to follow the example of most Scandinavian countries that see the proper feeding of their children as important as intellectual education.
Even Jack McConnell leader of the Lib/Lab executive in the Scottish Parliament has been forced half heartedly to respond to the campaign by highlighting the achievement of providing fruit in schools!
The SSP will continue its campaign inside and outside Holyrood to win this very real improvement to the lives of working class children.