2 Scots do it differently

One of the interesting effects of Scottish and Welsh devolution is that social policies are now being pursued differently within the UK. One example that caught my eye is the plan to provide free school meals for all pupils in some Scots primary schools http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7054334.stm – This deceptively simple initiative could, in my opinion, significantly benefit the whole school population. It will benefit children from seriously disadvantaged families, who will no longer be identified or feel stigmatised by qualifying for free school meals (FSM). It will also help the borderline disadvantaged who come from families with low incomes, but who don’t qualify for FSM and whose carers sometimes don’t think it worth the financial outlay, as they know their child hardly eats anything. For all the pupils, it could be the basis for a healthy diet which could be a key component in an integrated exercise/local life style regime aimed at combating early year’s obesity. It would also build social capital, through encouraging a sense of social inclusion and unity among all pupils in a school. We often hear how good it is for families to sit down to a shared meal, a common experience and bond, why not among school pupils. Meanwhile, initiatives in England seem to be all puff and nonsense, celebrity based baloney, such as super nannies, super chefs, and patronising advertising campaigns. Why are the population of England so easily fobbed off with celebrity stunts while the Scots do policy seriously?