Mayor of the London borough Sir Robin Wales described government plans to scrap the proposed extension to free school meal pilots for primary pupils as "short-sighted" and has called on the coalition government to rethink its decision.
Last month, in response to a letter from former Children's Secretary Ed Balls, Gove wrote that he would not back additional free school meal pilots or the expansion of the programme into primary schools, although he would continue to examine the current pilots and consider whether they should be expanded in the future.
Speaking this week, Wales said: "Our pilot means we can make a huge difference to the lives of our pupils and their families, particularly those working hard but struggling to pay basic bills — and get some of the most deprived young people in the country healthy.
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