A bill providing for the state funded provision of breakfast and lunch to all decile one and two schools has been defeated.
The Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill provides for the introduction of fully State funded breakfast and lunch programmes into all decile 1 and 2 schools and other designated schools. The meals will be available to all enrolled students in these schools free of charge, and will be required to meet Ministry of Health nutritional guidelines.
The bill’s current sponsor Metiria Turei (it was originally brought in by former MP Hone Harawira) urged MPs to support the bill, but she did not gain enough votes with National MPs saying it was too expensive and they preferred targeted assistance.
The bill was defeated by 61 to 59 with National, ACT and United Future opposed.
MPs then began the first reading debate on the Electronic Data Safety Bill.
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