Fast-food vans may be banned from schools

Exclusion zones could be imposed around schools to stop fast-food vans selling junk food to children during break times.

Exclusion zones could be imposed around schools to stop fast-food vans selling junk food to children during break times.

Chris Waterman, executive director of Confed, the confederation of education and children's services managers, will urge the Department for Education today to give local authorities powers to ban vans selling chips, burgers and ice-creams from areas near schools.

Mr Waterman will tell a meeting of the education department's Food in Schools group that the Government's drive to improve children's diet will fail if they can buy fast food at the school gates. "We must not allow this to be fatally undermined by Mr Whippy and Mr Chippy," he said. "In a perfect world the fast-food industry would not target schools at lunchtimes and there would be a voluntary code. But as that's not likely to happen it is vital we set up exclusion zones to keep these vans away."

On Monday the Government said it was to make an extra £220m available to improve school meals, following a campaign by the chef Jamie Oliver.

The Conservatives announced plans yesterday to ban junk food from schools. Chips, crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks would be removed from can-teens and vending machines.