The education secretary has announced a wide ranging review of school meals in a bid to beat obesity.

Charles Clarke wants to tackle the growing crisis in children's health by focussing on the content of lunches provided by schools.

Government Response: Department for Education and Skills

Charles Clarke, education and skills secretary, said: "Good health and effective learning go hand-in-hand, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. The partnership of parents and schools is critical in shaping good health in children and schools are well-placed to lead by example.

"The Healthy School Programme has already achieved much in developing a whole-school approach to health and wellbeing for young people, I hope that the blueprint will build on this foundation, and encourage schools to play a full part in the health of the nation."

Party Response: Conservative

Simon Burns, shadow health minister, said: "The government's approach to tackling
the problems of poor diet and obesity in schools, like their approach to all public health issues, has been haphazard and lacks coherence.

"Labour needs to work in conjunction with parents and sport initiatives.

"We are all tired of hearing about new projects, be they committees, obesity summits, or consultation papers. After seven years in office Labour should have some answers.

"What we need is a central coherent strategy to link together all the department initiatives and a public health commissioner to ensure that it is delivered."

Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Gwen Evans, ATL deputy general secretary, said: "ATL welcomes the proposals but nevertheless, for many cash strapped schools the quandary remains. Reliant on the profits from vending machines, they cannot afford to stop selling sweetened canned drinks and over salted crisps, because they need the money raised to pay staff.