Local pupils spark ‘healthy’ Assembly debate

CONVERSATIONS about school meals with children from Rhosllanerchrugog and Penycae have sparked a debate on the floor of the Assembly.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates recently met a group of youngsters from his constituency and got talking to them about the amount of sugar and caffeine in their sweets and drinks.

Showing a huge interest in the subject, the young people have prompted the local Assembly Member to use a debate he has won in the Assembly in December to discuss the issue with other AMs.

The AM has won what is known as a ‘Short Debate’ in the Assembly on Wednesday 5th December.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said:

“I got chatting to a group of young people from Rhos as they were getting ready for a trip to the Assembly in Cardiff.  I was unable to join them because I had meetings in the constituency but I wanted to wave them off. We started chatting about school meals, lunchboxes and snacks, then talked about the amount of sugar and caffeine contained in their drinks.

“I found out that all of them had a genuine interest in healthy eating and displayed quite an impressive knowledge of what was healthy and what was not.  We also talked about the need for politicians to talk more about healthy eating in school canteens.

“This came after a similar discussion with pupils and teachers from Penycae, who shared concerns about the effects of energy drinks on the concentration and behaviour of young people in classrooms.

“All this gave me the idea that I’d take their ideas away and discuss them with other Assembly Members in December.  I’ll then report back to them with what AMs have said and what the Minister thinks we can do about it.

“It’s great to find young people so interested in politics and so enthusiastic about learning more about healthy eating.”