Free School Meals
Re: Free School Meals
This Marcus fella seems quite sensible. I wonder should we open negotiations with him.
Re: Free School Meals
It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Last edited by YOYO on Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Free School Meals
The school food delivery is organised locally and not by the government, it’s good that there’s a focus on it though.
It’s a good day in a democracy when things like this happen.
Re: Free School Meals
He’s actually a self serving dickhead who doesn’t put any of his own money into what he preaches , he’s a figurehead led by a team of Don King types. Utter plum, and a complete contrast to Harry Kane who is a gent and very professional , if notnexactly Einstein.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
But doesn’t the government fund this? Is it a case that local authorities are keeping a big portion of the £30 per head? Food boxes worth £5 seems a total pisstake. It’s almost as if the people running this scheme has contempt for the lower classes, the people who are unable to feed their kids themselves.
Re: Free School Meals
It’s likely that as with most things to do with local authorities and current govt actions, the person in charge was inept - it’s never anyone’s actually money, just the public purse, so no thought or care or check for anything resembling value for money took place.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:17 pmBut doesn’t the government fund this? Is it a case that local authorities are keeping a big portion of the £30 per head? Food boxes worth £5 seems a total pisstake. It’s almost as if the people running this scheme has contempt for the lower classes, the people who are unable to feed their kids themselves.
Woeful skills and acumen is why I’d rather there be a few benefits as possible, because the public sector is awful at organising anything
I don’t think it was some Tory machievellian plot to keep the poor starving or rip people off at £25 a time, just ineptitude and lack of care or thought at a time when there are other more pressing matters with covid and brexit than some footballers vanity project
Last edited by backrow on Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Free School Meals
YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:17 pmBut doesn’t the government fund this? Is it a case that local authorities are keeping a big portion of the £30 per head? Food boxes worth £5 seems a total pisstake. It’s almost as if the people running this scheme has contempt for the lower classes, the people who are unable to feed their kids themselves.
The funding comes from central Government to local Government and schools, the company providing the crap are employed locally and nothing to do with the Government.
“Scheme” ? The local council and schools or the companies employed.?
- danny_fitz
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Re: Free School Meals
In fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
Though of course Compass and Chartwell have been awarded £millions in contracts and are the preferred supplier for school mealsbimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:37 pmYOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:17 pmBut doesn’t the government fund this? Is it a case that local authorities are keeping a big portion of the £30 per head? Food boxes worth £5 seems a total pisstake. It’s almost as if the people running this scheme has contempt for the lower classes, the people who are unable to feed their kids themselves.
The funding comes from central Government to local Government and schools, the company providing the crap are employed locally and nothing to do with the Government.
“Scheme” ? The local council and schools or the companies employed.?
The food catering giant and its subsidiary have been awarded almost £350m in school meal catering contracts since 2016, according to analysts at Tussell. The public procurement experts said Compass and Chartwells remain the biggest providers of school meals in the UK.
Re: Free School Meals
Why ? Has there been another bumming in the news ?danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pmIn fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
fudge ing hilarious you arsebackrow wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:58 pmWhy ? Has there been another bumming in the news ?danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pmIn fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:56 pmThough of course Compass and Chartwell have been awarded £millions in contracts and are the preferred supplier for school mealsbimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:37 pmYOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:17 pmBut doesn’t the government fund this? Is it a case that local authorities are keeping a big portion of the £30 per head? Food boxes worth £5 seems a total pisstake. It’s almost as if the people running this scheme has contempt for the lower classes, the people who are unable to feed their kids themselves.
The funding comes from central Government to local Government and schools, the company providing the crap are employed locally and nothing to do with the Government.
“Scheme” ? The local council and schools or the companies employed.?The food catering giant and its subsidiary have been awarded almost £350m in school meal catering contracts since 2016, according to analysts at Tussell. The public procurement experts said Compass and Chartwells remain the biggest providers of school meals in the UK.
They’re not government contracts either,
Re: Free School Meals
This forum is obsessed with arses !SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:22 pmfudge ing hilarious you arsebackrow wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:58 pmWhy ? Has there been another bumming in the news ?danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pmIn fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
Who's are they and where does the money come from then?bimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:25 pmSaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:56 pmThough of course Compass and Chartwell have been awarded £millions in contracts and are the preferred supplier for school mealsbimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:37 pmYOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:17 pmBut doesn’t the government fund this? Is it a case that local authorities are keeping a big portion of the £30 per head? Food boxes worth £5 seems a total pisstake. It’s almost as if the people running this scheme has contempt for the lower classes, the people who are unable to feed their kids themselves.
The funding comes from central Government to local Government and schools, the company providing the crap are employed locally and nothing to do with the Government.
“Scheme” ? The local council and schools or the companies employed.?The food catering giant and its subsidiary have been awarded almost £350m in school meal catering contracts since 2016, according to analysts at Tussell. The public procurement experts said Compass and Chartwells remain the biggest providers of school meals in the UK.
They’re not government contracts either,
Re: Free School Meals
Sorry, I meant classless twatbackrow wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:35 pmThis forum is obsessed with arses !SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:22 pmfudge ing hilarious you arsebackrow wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:58 pmWhy ? Has there been another bumming in the news ?danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pmIn fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:39 pmWho's are they and where does the money come from then?bimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:25 pmSaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:56 pmThough of course Compass and Chartwell have been awarded £millions in contracts and are the preferred supplier for school mealsbimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:37 pmYOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:17 pm
But doesn’t the government fund this? Is it a case that local authorities are keeping a big portion of the £30 per head? Food boxes worth £5 seems a total pisstake. It’s almost as if the people running this scheme has contempt for the lower classes, the people who are unable to feed their kids themselves.
The funding comes from central Government to local Government and schools, the company providing the crap are employed locally and nothing to do with the Government.
“Scheme” ? The local council and schools or the companies employed.?The food catering giant and its subsidiary have been awarded almost £350m in school meal catering contracts since 2016, according to analysts at Tussell. The public procurement experts said Compass and Chartwells remain the biggest providers of school meals in the UK.
They’re not government contracts either,
Schools and local authorities, the money comes from the tax payer as does every penny spent by the state in the UK.
Re: Free School Meals
Thanks, I really didn't realise it was taxpayers money!bimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:42 pmSaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:39 pmWho's are they and where does the money come from then?bimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:25 pmSaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:56 pmThough of course Compass and Chartwell have been awarded £millions in contracts and are the preferred supplier for school mealsThe food catering giant and its subsidiary have been awarded almost £350m in school meal catering contracts since 2016, according to analysts at Tussell. The public procurement experts said Compass and Chartwells remain the biggest providers of school meals in the UK.
They’re not government contracts either,
Schools and local authorities, the money comes from the tax payer as does every penny spent by the state in the UK.
So the funding to schools and LEA's is from the treasury?
Re: Free School Meals
Hey I’m mega classy - I’m not the one burying 800 kiddie corpses under the hurling pitchSaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:40 pmSorry, I meant classless twatbackrow wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:35 pmThis forum is obsessed with arses !SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:22 pmfudge ing hilarious you arsebackrow wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:58 pmWhy ? Has there been another bumming in the news ?danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pm
In fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.
Re: Free School Meals
SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:52 pmThanks, I really didn't realise it was taxpayers money!
So the funding to schools and LEA's is from the treasury?
For this yes. If you’re going to suggest that abdicates local responsibilities then that’s a bit of an odd take on what responsibilities actually are.
It’s a decent demonstration of the state being shit at stuff though I’ll agree with that.
Re: Free School Meals
Well our government of today is at least taking full accountability for its role in an atrocity that dates back a long time ago. The speeches from our Taoiseach / PM both yesterday and today in response to the report findings were excellent. A leader showing how to lead. Night and day compared to loopy Boris.danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pmIn fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
Don’t shoot me down. I occasionally listen to LBC UK radio in the morning (over the net), hence why I’m a little informed on bigger news across the water. Granted, I find I can’t listen for much more than an hour as JOB can be hard on the ears!
Currently listening to FOX News radio. I even give TalkRADIO a whirl.
Currently listening to FOX News radio. I even give TalkRADIO a whirl.
Last edited by YOYO on Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- inactionman
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Re: Free School Meals
Christ, this last page has been a painful read. Not least that kids are going to go hungry - you can almost smell the burning of the polyester chinos as the usual clowns rub their thighs with delight at this whole fiasco.
As some respite, they're supposed to be replacing Chartwell's hapless effort with food vouchers as of next week - I understand why government was keen to encourage food parcels instead of vouchers, but this hasn't worked. Expect plenty of admin cock-ups, but I'd rather this than the f**king insult of a food box some families have received.
It's one thing ripping off taxpayers, another to screw over hungry kids. Well pissed off over this.
As some respite, they're supposed to be replacing Chartwell's hapless effort with food vouchers as of next week - I understand why government was keen to encourage food parcels instead of vouchers, but this hasn't worked. Expect plenty of admin cock-ups, but I'd rather this than the f**king insult of a food box some families have received.
It's one thing ripping off taxpayers, another to screw over hungry kids. Well pissed off over this.
- Leinster in London
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Re: Free School Meals
How much of this is the fault of puritans who block giving the parent a voucher for £30 that is redeemable in any supermarket. They leave the councils no choice but to find providers of hampers that contain food, and definitely no booze or ciggies?
It's just unfortunate the cost of the parcel is £30 instead of the £5 cost of the food inside it.
Private enterprise is of course ok for them, and close your eyes to the increase of the "hookers & coke" business.
It's just unfortunate the cost of the parcel is £30 instead of the £5 cost of the food inside it.
Private enterprise is of course ok for them, and close your eyes to the increase of the "hookers & coke" business.
Re: Free School Meals
Leinster in London wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:24 pm How much of this is the fault of puritans who block giving the parent a voucher for £30 that is redeemable in any supermarket. They leave the councils no choice but to find providers of hampers that contain food, and definitely no booze or ciggies?
It's just unfortunate the cost of the parcel is £30 instead of the £5 cost of the food inside it.
Private enterprise is of course ok for them, and close your eyes to the increase of the "hookers & coke" business.
Damn those “puritans “ demanding the children’s food money is spent on actual food.
- inactionman
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Re: Free School Meals
I can't believe it's beyond the wit of man to devise a voucher scheme that can only be applied to certain categories of grocery to avoid feckless parents buying lottery tickets with it, but I do get why some might see a food box to be preferable. Surely - and this might just be me being mad - the box providers get the ingredients at trade/cost or at least at significant discount and can do an order of scale better than what we're seeing.Leinster in London wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:24 pm How much of this is the fault of puritans who block giving the parent a voucher for £30 that is redeemable in any supermarket. They leave the councils no choice but to find providers of hampers that contain food, and definitely no booze or ciggies?
It's just unfortunate the cost of the parcel is £30 instead of the £5 cost of the food inside it.
Private enterprise is of course ok for them, and close your eyes to the increase of the "hookers & coke" business.
The problem remains that it ain't worked, and I've no confidence it'll be made to work, so bin it.
Re: Free School Meals
According to Chartwells CEO it was 5 days of school meals and the charge was £10.50 and not £30.Leinster in London wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:24 pm How much of this is the fault of puritans who block giving the parent a voucher for £30 that is redeemable in any supermarket. They leave the councils no choice but to find providers of hampers that contain food, and definitely no booze or ciggies?
It's just unfortunate the cost of the parcel is £30 instead of the £5 cost of the food inside it.
Private enterprise is of course ok for them, and close your eyes to the increase of the "hookers & coke" business.
- danny_fitz
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Re: Free School Meals
I agree in part with your post but ultimately all these apologies/reports/accountability have taken decades to be dragged out of both the state and the church after endless campaigning. Most victims did not live to see justice and were instead smeared, called out as liars and treated like a dirty secret. Great that the Taoiseach today is doing the right thing, they should have been taking responsibility 30 years ago.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:00 pmWell our government of today is at least taking full accountability for its role in an atrocity that dates back a long time ago. The speeches from our Taoiseach / PM both yesterday and today in response to the report findings were excellent. A leader showing how to lead. Night and day compared to loopy Boris.danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pmIn fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
Re: Free School Meals
Thanksbimboman wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:57 pmSaintK wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:52 pmThanks, I really didn't realise it was taxpayers money!
So the funding to schools and LEA's is from the treasury?
For this yes. If you’re going to suggest that abdicates local responsibilities then that’s a bit of an odd take on what responsibilities actually are.
It’s a decent demonstration of the state being shit at stuff though I’ll agree with that.
I'm not going to suggest anything. It was a geniune question.
- Leinster in London
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Re: Free School Meals
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13727203/ ... ool-meals/Gospel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:34 pmAccording to Chartwells CEO it was 5 days of school meals and the charge was £10.50 and not £30.Leinster in London wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:24 pm How much of this is the fault of puritans who block giving the parent a voucher for £30 that is redeemable in any supermarket. They leave the councils no choice but to find providers of hampers that contain food, and definitely no booze or ciggies?
It's just unfortunate the cost of the parcel is £30 instead of the £5 cost of the food inside it.
Private enterprise is of course ok for them, and close your eyes to the increase of the "hookers & coke" business.
So according to The Scum (spit),
More seriously though, much much more seriously, Why didn't it cost £15?Elaine Stacey, 41, from Reading, was given a food parcel "worth £3" containing a loaf of bread, weighed-out pasta in a sandwich bag, three jelly pots and a jar of Dolmio sauce to feed her 17-year-old son for one week.
Re: Free School Meals
I would imagine that would be because there is a cost for the food plus the packaging and then the distribution. I am not up to speed with all this - but what was wrong with food vouchers?Leinster in London wrote:More seriously though, much much more seriously, Why didn't it cost £15?
- Leinster in London
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Re: Free School Meals
Gospel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:54 pmI would imagine that would be because there is a cost for the food plus the packaging and then the distribution. I am not up to speed with all this - but what was wrong with food vouchers?Leinster in London wrote:More seriously though, much much more seriously, Why didn't it cost £15?
the link I provided shows the overheads were included in the £10.50.
There are still questions to be answered."For clarity this shows five days of free school lunches (not ten days) and the charge for food, packing and distribution was actually £10.50 and not £30 as suggested.
"However, in our efforts to provide thousands of food parcels a week at extremely short notice we are very sorry the quantity has fallen short in this instance."
Re: Free School Meals
This is why I don't understand the Rashford haters. He's doing good-work regardless.Leinster in London wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:59 pmGospel wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:54 pmI would imagine that would be because there is a cost for the food plus the packaging and then the distribution. I am not up to speed with all this - but what was wrong with food vouchers?Leinster in London wrote:More seriously though, much much more seriously, Why didn't it cost £15?
the link I provided shows the overheads were included in the £10.50.There are still questions to be answered."For clarity this shows five days of free school lunches (not ten days) and the charge for food, packing and distribution was actually £10.50 and not £30 as suggested.
"However, in our efforts to provide thousands of food parcels a week at extremely short notice we are very sorry the quantity has fallen short in this instance."
Re: Free School Meals
There’s lots of questions to be answered from the company providing and being paid for a service that they’re failing at.
- RodneyRegis
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Re: Free School Meals
The media/twitter etc has quickly suggested that these meal parcels are supposed to feed a child for a week, rather than compensate the parent for 5 school meals. They've also assumed that 5 meal parcels are supposed to over 10 meals.
It's unfortunate, because it distracts from the main point, which is that the contractors are clearly sending crap food to lower value than they should.
Twitter is further messing things up by suggesting that they should be sent food which matches kids' fads, which is of course not done with school meals.
They've also tried to suggest that the move from vouchers is because Tories think the vouchers go to crack dens, which seems to be based on misapprehension (possibly delieberate) from some spurious tweet.
It does seem it would be easier to just give vouchers which are usable for food only. I believe this option is available and it's up to the school to decide.
It's unfortunate, because it distracts from the main point, which is that the contractors are clearly sending crap food to lower value than they should.
Twitter is further messing things up by suggesting that they should be sent food which matches kids' fads, which is of course not done with school meals.
They've also tried to suggest that the move from vouchers is because Tories think the vouchers go to crack dens, which seems to be based on misapprehension (possibly delieberate) from some spurious tweet.
It does seem it would be easier to just give vouchers which are usable for food only. I believe this option is available and it's up to the school to decide.
Re: Free School Meals
I imagine the cynical will assume the company is linked to the Tory party, or someone potentially in government indirectly benefitting financially.
Re: Free School Meals
That wouldn’t make any sense as neither the Government nor the Tory party hire them. This has been explained previously yo-yo.
Re: Free School Meals
It was unbelievable Danny how the Catholic church behaved here during those years. The government equally culpable. The church has suffered for it big time in Ireland in attendances and status in the country. Pity the poor people that suffered during all of it.danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:44 pmI agree in part with your post but ultimately all these apologies/reports/accountability have taken decades to be dragged out of both the state and the church after endless campaigning. Most victims did not live to see justice and were instead smeared, called out as liars and treated like a dirty secret. Great that the Taoiseach today is doing the right thing, they should have been taking responsibility 30 years ago.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:00 pmWell our government of today is at least taking full accountability for its role in an atrocity that dates back a long time ago. The speeches from our Taoiseach / PM both yesterday and today in response to the report findings were excellent. A leader showing how to lead. Night and day compared to loopy Boris.danny_fitz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:55 pmIn fairness, today of all days is probably not the best for the Irish to be lecturing the British government on how to look after kids.YOYO wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:05 pm It’s not a good day good when a celebrity footballer (and nice bloke) Marcus Rashfold has to rebuke the British government on their rubbish attempts to feed the impoverished children, thus focusing them to get serious and take responsibility.
Boris’s government abdicating responsibility once again.
An awful stain on our history of our state.
Re: Free School Meals
Think the tweet is pretty clearRodneyRegis wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 4:20 pm The media/twitter etc has quickly suggested that these meal parcels are supposed to feed a child for a week, rather than compensate the parent for 5 school meals. They've also assumed that 5 meal parcels are supposed to over 10 meals.
It's unfortunate, because it distracts from the main point, which is that the contractors are clearly sending crap food to lower value than they should.
Twitter is further messing things up by suggesting that they should be sent food which matches kids' fads, which is of course not done with school meals.
They've also tried to suggest that the move from vouchers is because Tories think the vouchers go to crack dens, which seems to be based on misapprehension (possibly delieberate) from some spurious tweet.
It does seem it would be easier to just give vouchers which are usable for food only. I believe this option is available and it's up to the school to decide.

But anyway, even if this is a shit private company being paid to do a shit job, it is indicative of a lot of the failings of Government (and this Government in particular).
I understand people who want a small and efficient government with unnecessary waste, but when you reduce it's capability to the point the UK is in currently, it can't then effectively scale up and meet new/urgent demands. That means you need to pay huge short-term contracts to consultants and other private businesses.
The Civil service had shrunk by 20% between 2009 and 2016. It has since grown again (so now only 10% smaller than 2009), but with everyone coming in doing Brexit work - and more recently Covid work. The shinkages were also seen in NGOs and agencies. That just creates capacity/capability problems.
Though then there are your archetypal philosophical distinctions. One wing generally believe you have worse outcomes if you try and completely eliminate waste and abuse as it fucks up incentives and leads to 'worse' outcomes, the other side think some element of abuse/waste is worth outcomes that are broadly 'better' for everyone.
Re: Free School Meals
There’s no evidence that more civil servants in central government would have improved local council and school decisions and contracts in any way.
- RodneyRegis
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Re: Free School Meals
I don't think anyone would deny that the value taxpayers have got from decades of government of either colour has been a disgrace. Whether due to incompetence or corruption is another argument.grimoald wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 5:31 pmThink the tweet is pretty clearRodneyRegis wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 4:20 pm The media/twitter etc has quickly suggested that these meal parcels are supposed to feed a child for a week, rather than compensate the parent for 5 school meals. They've also assumed that 5 meal parcels are supposed to over 10 meals.
It's unfortunate, because it distracts from the main point, which is that the contractors are clearly sending crap food to lower value than they should.
Twitter is further messing things up by suggesting that they should be sent food which matches kids' fads, which is of course not done with school meals.
They've also tried to suggest that the move from vouchers is because Tories think the vouchers go to crack dens, which seems to be based on misapprehension (possibly deliberate) from some spurious tweet.
It does seem it would be easier to just give vouchers which are usable for food only. I believe this option is available and it's up to the school to decide.
But anyway, even if this is a shit private company being paid to do a shit job, it is indicative of a lot of the failings of Government (and this Government in particular).
I understand people who want a small and efficient government with unnecessary waste, but when you reduce it's capability to the point the UK is in currently, it can't then effectively scale up and meet new/urgent demands. That means you need to pay huge short-term contracts to consultants and other private businesses.
The Civil service had shrunk by 20% between 2009 and 2016. It has since grown again (so now only 10% smaller than 2009), but with everyone coming in doing Brexit work - and more recently Covid work. The shinkages were also seen in NGOs and agencies. That just creates capacity/capability problems.
Though then there are your archetypal philosophical distinctions. One wing generally believe you have worse outcomes if you try and completely eliminate waste and abuse as it fucks up incentives and leads to 'worse' outcomes, the other side think some element of abuse/waste is worth outcomes that are broadly 'better' for everyone.
Whatever you think of the tweet, if you think the parcels were brought in to stop them being exchanged for drugs, or that the "Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for Youth" has anyhting to do with policy, then I've a bridge here.