Alex Reid

Former cage fighter Alex Reid called today for supermarkets, banks and big business to fund healthy school meals.

He set out plans to raise £1 billion by offering companies promotional opportunities, including direct marketing to parents, in return for investment in a scheme called Let’s Do Lunch.

Speaking in Parliament to the All-Party Group on School Food, the ex-husband of glamour model Katie Price said he wanted to “ban packed lunches” by providing free meals to all schoolchildren.

He had been in to schools and seen children eating chocolate and crisps, which was “affecting their ability to concentrate in lessons”, he said.

His proposal would relieve the taxpayer of the burden of school meals and benefit companies, he added.

“The important thing is the Let’s Do Lunch marketing would help companies investing in the scheme to generate more revenues.

“I want to make healthy school meals available to all kids. We will essentially make them compulsory and ban packed lunches.”