TELEVISION IN SCHOOL DINING ROOMS PATRONISING

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th Jan 2007

Commenting on reports that Education Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Parmjit Dhanda, has advocated the use of TVs in school dining rooms, Liberal Democrat Sam Potts said:

"Parents who battle with their children to watch less TV will be tearing their hair out at this announcement.

"It's patronising to suggest you can coax children into eating healthily by showing them the latest pop videos. Instead of installing TVs in dining rooms, we need to put much more effort into making healthy meals tasty and attractive to children.

"What's wrong with kids talking to each other over lunch? Children don't go to chip shops because there's a TV there. They go because they like chips."

ENDS