AM accused of being cereal killer (From Western Telegraph)

VIDEO NEWS

View our latest videos here »

Your Pembrokeshire

Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting WTEL NEWS to 80360 or email »

News RSS Feed

AM accused of being cereal killer

9:40am Wednesday 12th December 2007

comment Comments (4) Have your say »

A breakfast bar brawl has broken out between two of Pembrokeshire's assembly members after Labour AM, Joyce Watson accused Welsh Conservative AM, Paul Davies, of being a cereal killer.

The mid and west Wales AM, Joyce Watson has challenged Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies to sample what his party is committed to killing off - a free, healthy school breakfast.

The Welsh Conservatives have again called for the scrapping of the school breakfast scheme, which would affect a third of Pembrokeshire primary schools.

Joyce Watson said: "It's time the Tories dropped their opposition to free breakfasts and started supporting the most important meal of the day.

"Paul Davies should visit Pembrokeshire's primary schools at breakfast time and see what a difference free healthy breakfasts are making in local schools.

"It has been proven that a decent breakfast improves concentration in the classroom, pupil behaviour and attendance."

Paul Davies AM responded by saying: "It would be much better for children to have breakfast at home with their families and for the £10 million spent on this scheme in Wales each year to be used for educational purposes.

"I'd like to challenge Joyce to join me on a tour of the Pembrokeshire schools that need major building improvements and then she can decide whether cornflakes or crumbling walls are more important."

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourPembrokeshire

John Doe, Pennar says...
6:08pm Wed 12 Dec 07

Mr Davies, long have the Conservatives been advocating single Mothers not rely on state benefit but rather get out and get a job. To start work at 9am is impossible when you have to drop your child off at school at that very time. Not only does the free breakfast ensure poor families can ensure their children get a meal at the start of the day it's an invaluable service to Mothers, single and otherswise, who choose to work rather than stay at home.

Maybe if the WAG didn't spend so much money bailing out private enterprises financially and the expenses bill for AM Members and MPs alike wasn't so **** exorborant then there would be enough money for BOTH!!!!!

If cuts are required to fund crumbling walls then I can think of many areas that can be highlighted other than the free school breakfast scheme.

Report this post »

One voice, says...
7:53pm Wed 12 Dec 07

I hate to play devil's advocate, but this isn't really about subsidisng the poor, it's about subsidisng everyone who take's their child to school early and takes advantage of the low cost child care provided.

Breakfast clubs are a great ides but why shouldn't the individual pay for this service, rather than us all being penalised? What's next, provide a free dinner for those who don't finish work until after 5, or perhaps weekend meals for those that have to work Saturdays and Sundays?

Report this post »

John Doe, Pennar says...
10:52pm Wed 12 Dec 07

Some fair points Sir, but, as Joyce says, so many children turn up at school on an empty stomach, it's a very practical service that has a massive benefit on childrens health and learning! As for subsidising everyone who takes their children to school, why not? No different to other benefits such as Tax Credits that allow many people to get back to work. It CREATES jobs for the breakfast supervisors, it also allows many people to go out to work where the conflicting times of starting work and school would be otherwise prohibitive.

It just sticks in my throat that the an AM would advocate revoking such a terrific service when the WAG have spent literally MILLIONS of pounds subsidising the Millenium Centre when that money could have been put towards full or part cost on any number of things, school buildings improvements, abolition of Cleddau Bridge tolls, dualling of the A40, replenishing the monies taken fraudulently by Brian Hall from the Pembrokeshire council tax payers pockets, the list is endless.......

There must be literally HUNDREDS of things that have money wasted on them that could be scrapped before the axe should fall on children's breakfasts!

Report this post »

yvonne-mandy nicholl BSY (veg th), penally says...
2:13am Fri 14 Dec 07

Today schools have such a wide catchment area, many children spend a good two hours traveling back and forth to school in attendance in and out.

For this purpose school provision in breakfast inclusion is important, vitally so as it allows children to be a part of social interaction.

The only part of all of this is that I am afraid the responsibility of the family role ie sitting around at least on one occasion as a family at the start of the day is becoming a rarity.

The school day for a child could be perceived as everything bar bed, I am only feeling by instinct the family unit is freezing down.

I would like to hear Paul Davies malaise on the present governments closing of smaller schools, which he would be in a good position to do so.
As chastise him we may but I still consider the previous government were
on the ball about maintaining village schools' which is sadly not so today.

Report this post »

Your sayYourPembrokeshire

comment Add your comment

Register for a FREE Western Telegraph account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.

Please register now or sign in below to continue.