Heads win fight to keep food vending machines in school

Headteachers have successfully lobbied for schools to be allowed to keep vending machines selling sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks.

The Government was under pressure to ban selling junk food in secondary schools amid concerns about rising levels of obesity and fears that companies were targeting children.

But the plans have been dropped following protests from heads who claim vending machines help reduce truancy.

If pupils are denied access to crisps and drinks at school they will leave to purchase them outside, heads have told ministers. This would not only increase truancy rates but would have implications for anti-social behaviour.

The heads argue it is better to teach pupils the importance of making sensible choices in eating, rather than a "nanny state" imposing a ban which would only be flouted. Schools also claim that vending machines are a valuable source of extra income. Ministers are understood to have accepted the arguments despite pressure from parents and MPs to prohibit the sale of high-fat foods in schools.

A recent report by the Commons health select committee called for vending machines to be banned, claiming the selling of snacks high in sugar, fat and salt had no place in schools.

But the Evening Standard has learned the Government will use its official response to the report to announce it has no intention of dictating to headteachers what they sell in schools.

Instead, they will urge schools to work with food companies to expand the range of choice on offer to children, so vending companies offer fresh fruit and juices alongside crisps and sugary drinks. Ministers are also having second thoughts about banning adverts for junk food from children's television.

John Reid, the Health Secretary, has indicated he might introduce a voluntary code or legislation. But Whitehall officials say it would be unworkable as the programmes most watched by children are primetime soaps and reality shows, not those created specifically for youngsters.

Michael Lloyd, of the National Association of Head Teachers, said schools were not interested in banning vending machines.

He added: "A lot of heads need the money and they believe in freedom of choice. If they don't have vending machines the children go down to the local shops. The ideal is to educate youngsters how to balance fast food with a healthy diet." A recent survey found 79 per cent of parents wanted vending machines removed.

Concerns have been raised after it emerged at least two thirds of children confess to eating a packet of crisps most days of the week, while 41 per cent consume sugar-filled drinks at a similar rate.

Labour MP Debra Shipley accused the Government of a "serious dereliction of duty".

She added: "It is simply not good enough to leave it up to headteachers to decide. They should take the advice of the health professional and parents. They heads don't want these machines and the parents don' t want these machines."

More than 100 MPs have backed a Commons motion tabled by Ms Shipley calling for improvements to children's diets, including the banning of vending machines from schools.