EDUCATION chiefs fear millions of pounds promised by the Government to transform York's school dinners may never materialise.

As city councillors discussed the impact of an imminent increase in the cost of school meals, money pledged in the wake of TV chef Jamie Oliver's focus on school food was yet to arrive.

Some fear the campaigning chef's concerns may have put parents off buying school meals.

But they fiercely defended the quality of food in some York schools.

Executive member for education councillor Carol Runciman said she had no idea how much of the £220 million of funding for school meals, plus £60 million from the Lottery fund, York would receive.

Yesterday, her advisory panel heard school meal prices will rise in York primary schools from £1.52 to £1.60 and from £1.61 to £1.70 in secondary schools.

Councillor Runciman said: "I am starting to wonder if the Government may, in fact, fail to deliver on its promise.

"We understand the importance of school meals to ensure children are able to concentrate on their work.

"We want to promote healthy eating and good nutritional standards in all schools.

"I have seen some very good meals served in local schools by committed catering staff and I would love to see further funding invested in the service.

"However, we know that York is often one of the last to get funding and, in this case, we hope that the funding has only been delayed, rather than disappeared altogether."

The council's client officer Barbara Kistasamy said York schools had experienced a slight drop in school meals take-up because of the "Jamie Oliver effect".

But she said quality was constantly improving.

"The food in York is not as bad as the food Jamie was experiencing in London," she said. "I'm proud to say that in York and North Yorkshire the meals have always been better than that. Better quality and better presentation."

Throughout the city, schools are striving to improve the quality of school meals.

School cook Jona Ellis, of Burton Green Primary School, York, said staff had worked incredibly hard to prepare meals from new menus sent out by North Yorkshire County Caterers.

She said: "A lot of persuasion and a lot of hard work have gone into it, but we have managed to sustain our numbers quite well.

"Some things like salad will never go down with our children, it's a waste of food, time and energy.

"But other things have been more successful and the staff have been very supportive."

Updated: 10:12 Wednesday, July 20, 2005