The free school meals pilot announced in April for every primary school pupil in the district has now been cancelled under Government spending cuts.

Bradford Council has just been informed by the Department for Education that the year-long scheme which would have started in September 2010, funded by an £8.34 million grant over one academic year, has now been withdrawn.

The Council and Education Bradford are contacting all schools who will be affected by this, many of whom had started planning for an anticipated increased demand for school meals. Information has also been published on Education Bradford's Bradford Schools Online website.

Coun Ralph Berry, Executive Member for Children's Services and Education, said: "We are very concerned about this ill-advised Government cut, as the pilot was to have wide-reaching benefits, including healthy eating, reducing obesity and improving health and well-being.

"Our Facilities Management service, who provide most primary school meals across the district, will continue to provide a very high standard and variety of nutritious meals for our children which continue to be very good value for money."