At a recent meeting with a local primary school head teacher in North Wiltshire, I was told about the domestic problem that some parents are facing when their younger child is eligible for a free school meal, whilst elder children are not, resulting in all the children being given sandwiches and the youngest still missing out on their free school meal.

This is especially so where the parent or parents is/are on working tax credit and subsequently on a tight budget. I am pleased to be able to say that following my correspondence with David Laws MP, the Liberal Democrat Minister of State for Education and the Cabinet Office, he was able to tell me that under a future Liberal Democrat government free school meals will be extended to all age groups at state primary schools.

Already the policy of introducing free school meals for all infants in state primary schools has had noticeable benefits in terms of improved concentration and learning and I am pleased to be associated with the party that introduced it.

Now to go the extra mile and see free school meals for all state primary school pupils in Wiltshire.

Dr Brian Mathew, Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for North Wiltshire.