Dunne backs Key's food plan, wants more

United Future leader Peter Dunne has come out in support of National leader John Key's plan to involve the private sector in supplying food for under-nourished children in schools, but is urging him to expand it.

"Why just stick with low-decile schools," he asks, "why not expand the scheme to cover all New Zealand schools so that all our children have access to healthy, nutritious food?

"At the moment, we have the unseemly spectacle of National and Labour scrapping over who knows more poor people, when the real issue is one of making sure our kids grow up healthy, well-fed and not subject to the diseases of poor nutrition like obesity or diabetes.

"The United Party's first leader, Clive Matthewson, pushed for a milk and apples in schools scheme in the 1990's and I see no good reason why the idea shouldn't be revived," said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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