STOPPING the supply of Halal meat from un-stunned animals to 27 schools will cost a council money and jobs and deter the take-up of free school meals, its officers have warned.

A report to Thursday's full meeting of Lancashire County Council, which will consider the controversial issue, says reimposing the ban could reduce the catering service's income by £285,000 a year.

It could also threaten 189 jobs of the schools in Blackburn, Nelson, Burnley, Rawtenstall, Hyndburn and Preston choose an alternative supplier of meat from animals not pre-stunned.

The report also warns many of the 12,000 Muslim pupils affected might boycott the lunches provided affecting their health and academic performance and reducing the individual school's income from the bonus paid for take-up of free school meals.

In September, the authority suspended its ban on beef and lamb from animals not rendered unconscious before Islamic religious slaughter until this week's meeting.

The county council’s cabinet took a decision in July to provide only stunned halal meat, except poultry, to schools. but the Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM) threatened to ask Muslim families to boycott all school meals.

The authority's Tory leader Geoff Driver said yesterday: "There will be a free vote. It is not about banning the serving of Halal meat from un-stunned animals but about the county not supplying it to schools.

"This is an animal welfare issue pure and simple. If there is a price to pay, it is worth paying."

Labour leader Cllr Azhar Ali aid: "The cost to council tax payers and the county's reputation does not matter to Cllr Drive as he believes he is always right."

Abdul Haim Qureshi, LCM chief executive, said: "I would urge councillors to vote to continue supplying meat from un-stunned animals.

"This issue is whipping up hatred against Muslims. Cllr Driver does not listen,

"If the vot is for a ban, we will consider measures including boycotting of school meals supplied by the county. catering service"

In November last year, the last time the proposed ban was debated at Full County Council, the vote was 41 in favour 24 against with 15 abstentions.