EDUCATION chiefs have defended a decision to increase the price of school dinners.

From September, a meal at a primary school in North Yorkshire will rise from £1.42 to £1.54.

North Yorkshire County Council says this still represents good value for money.

Councillor John Watson, the council's executive member for schools, said: "The county council was well ahead of the game in making the changes, which were subsequently highlighted by Jamie Oliver in his TV programmes on school meals.

"The price increase in school meals is needed to avoid an additional charge on school budgets - which are committed to improving teaching and learning."

The cost is rising because of a decision to cook less processed food and use healthier ingredients.

The council admits a number of parents stopped buying school dinners for their children after watching the Jamie Oliver programme.

Coun Watson added: "The Government has announced its intention to provide some extra money to enable us to improve the food content of school meals.

"However, since the announcement in the spring, no definite information has been provided as to the amount of money to be made available.

"If additional Government funding is made available, we will use it to further increase the quality of food that we buy."

The council plans to introduce a vegetarian menu, replace frozen meat with fresh meat, use more additive and preservative-free food and provide more training for catering staff.

In secondary schools, where a cafeteria system is used, the value of a free school meal will increase from £1.66 to £1.70.

The cost of a meal will increase by a similar amount