The centralisation of government catering services has not brought about the savings hoped for.

The provision of school meals was centralised along with other government catering services, under the remit of the Department of Health and Social Care, which was already responsible for hospital catering.

But catering responsibility is being given back to individual secondary schools - and primary schools may follow.

Health Minister Kate Beecroft MHK told Tynwald this week: ’There have been a number of benefits of bringing catering services to together. Support functions have been streamlined with all orders, purchases, payments and processes standardised.’

Another benefit was healthier meal options.

But she added: ’The savings envisaged by the creation of a centralised service have not been realised and, indeed, it will make a further loss this year.

’The financial challenges my department is experiencing means that we will need to consider all options available in order to make the service sustainable.’

Responsibility for school dinners is returning to the secondary schools from April 1. Mrs Beecroft said: ’The department is working closely with the Department of Education and Children to consider further options for primary schools catering.’

The issue was raised in Tynwald by ’children’s champion’ Daphne Caine (Garff), who also asked Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot whether his department would consider taking over centralised services, to link in with the department’s Food Matters strategy.

Mr Boot said procurement was a ’specialist’ process not carried out by his department, although he would be happy to see more local produce used by the centralised catering services.