Free fruit & veg?

Tran

Is it just me or does anyone else remember a while back did some government minister (health minister - Reid?) talk about providing families on low incomes with free fruit and veg through vouchers/tokens as these people tend not to eat the 5 portions a day of fresh fruit and veg.

Does anyone know if this scheme is being implemented and when? or was it just another headline about plans the govt. MAY introduce.

Also does anyone know how getting your milk tokens will change once the dept. of health start issuing them in November 2004?

rushnowt

??? I can't remember hearing anything about this, but it sure would be interesting to know if these families are getting this, I have a few friends on low income and its never been mentioned ???

Fran

I don't remember this either.

Spendless

It's not the fruit & veg scheme in schools that you're thinking of is it?
In my sons school they receive a piece of fruit or veg everday - seperate from their school dinners.
As far as I'm aware it is free to all kids up until junior school ageit is not means tested as I do not have to pay anything for it and we are not in receipt of benefits.

sarahlouise210

the Health secretary did announce that there would be a new voucher scheme for fruit and veg - this was on 16th February 2004. Currently tokens are provided for milk and infant formula but under the new scheme these will be replaced by weekly vouhers to spend on fresh produce as well as milk. Qualification is based on low income or receipt of tax credits(probably a qualifying amount of tax credits) The vouchers will be worth at least £2.80 per week for families with a child over 1 and at least £5.60 per week if you have a child under one.The idea is to promote a healthy lifestyle to cut the currebt trend of obese children. The system is to be phased in from the end of this year but where and when I am not sure ::)

Tran

the Health secretary did announce that there would be a new voucher scheme for fruit and veg - this was on 16th February 2004. Currently tokens are provided for milk and infant formula but under the new scheme these will be replaced by weekly vouhers to spend on fresh produce as well as milk. Qualification is based on low income or receipt of tax credits(probably a qualifying amount of tax credits) The vouchers will be worth at least £2.80 per week for families with a child over 1 and at least £5.60 per week if you have a child under one.The idea is to promote a healthy lifestyle to cut the currebt trend of obese children. The system is to be phased in from the end of this year but where and when I am not sure ::)

Thanks very much for the info. It looks like the value of the tokens will be about the same as you get with milk tokens at the moment. I wonder if the introduction of this scheme will take place when the dept. of health take over the issuing of milk tokens (november 2004).

filigree_2

If you Google for "Healthy Start" you can download a government leaflet on the subject. It's a bit out of date but I couldn't find anything more recent.

I first heard about this in February and I remember all sorts of promises, but now it's been whittled down to vouchers for kids under 5 in low income families. Basically if you get milk tokens now, you'll get veg tokens in the future. Good news for families who don't drink lots of milk! I don't think this will be of any use to anyone who doesn't get milk tokens right now, they don't seem to be expanding the scope of the welfare food scheme, just allowing you to buy fruit/veg as well as milk.

I think they might be allowing pregnant women on low incomes to claim vouchers too, which is better than nothing.

The fruit for schools programme is currently only available for kids aged between 4 - 6.

I'm not getting excited about this. Underneath all the hype there really hasn't been a huge change in welfare food provision, certainly not much of an increase! I'm still not eligible for any of it.

sarahlouise210

all pregnant women under the age of 18 will be able to receive the vouchers regardless of income

doodler_2

Agian people who can be bothered to work, are victims of the current government. you dont work all is taken care of you do work and you get nothing except stung for tax!!!

Fran

But there again, you have a much better standard of living if you have a decent wage, even after the tax is taken off.

(If you have a decent income then buying some fruit is not a problem is it?)

sarahlouise210

This is true but the way tax credits works it is now possible to be a parent working 16 hours a week and be receiving the same in wages plus tax credits as someone working full time on quite a decent salary - in addition realistically is it going to be the children eating those vegetables and fruit or will it mean that the parents have extra money now their own fruit and veg is paid for. Just because the government gives vouchers will not make the children suddenly want to eat them or the parents inclined to give them. Everyone who will be entitled to these vouchers is already receiving an income from some source and spend it as they choose,why can they not spend it on fruit and veg? food for thought.......... :-/