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Mother calls for cashless school dinners review

17th March 2008, 12:59pm

A mother has called for her local council to debate the use of cashless payments and fingerprint systems in schools when paying for meals.

Sophie McKeand, from the Flintshire area in Wales, wrote to her local councillor expressing her anger that children's fingers are being scanned at the till in school canteens.

A freedom of information request highlighted how the 'biometric cashless catering system' was introduced without consulting elected members of Flintshire Council.

Councillor Ray Dodd explained how he too is concerned that there hasn't been a formal debate: "I am surprised that this biometric system has been introduced in a school already, without any consultation with elected councillors. I'm alarmed that the idea is that all schoolchildren in Flintshire will be brought into this system. I would like to see the whole thing put on hold until a full and proper debate has been conducted."

Miss McKeand explained her decision to write to the 10 council executive members: "Elected members of council have not been made aware of the decision to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money."

Flintshire County Council remain adamant that the system, which costs around £27,000 to set up and run, was discussed at council meetings. The freedom of information request did not have a record or reference of these discussions taking place.

Miss McKeand has also set up a parents' action group to lobby for the removal of the system.

Words Clare Riley 0 comments

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