Fast-Food Restaurant Ban Near Schools

(United Kingdom) Every time Ed Balls is in the news, it's because of some new nanny-state idea.

Fast-food outlets should be barred from opening near schools, Ed Balls will say today.

The Schools Secretary also believes pupils should be prevented from leaving the premises at lunchtime to improve their diets.

There is 'no point' banning junk food in schools if teenagers can dodge healthy menus by buying from takeaway outlets which undercut school prices, he will say.

At a conference on healthy eating in schools, Mr Balls will highlight a plan by Waltham Forest Council, East London, to ban takeaways from opening within 400m of schools or youth facilities in the borough.

Town halls must use planning powers to help heads fight obesity and stop fast-food outlets 'proliferating' on the school run.

They need to do more to tackle an 'ingrained culture of unhealthy eating in schools and society'.

I have a hunch that Balls will be trying to cure other health problems. Oddly, since Balls is the Schools Secretary, one might think his job has something to do with education. Surprise!