Jamie Oliver used his BAFTAs acceptance speech to criticise the government's excuses on healthy school meals.

Officials have since promised they are making progress, despite the constant changing of Secretaries of State for Education.

Having picked up two awards, for Outstanding Presenter of a Factual Programme and Best Factual Series, the TV chef complained that alternating ministers were preventing change.

"Since we started the show two years ago I'm on to my third education secretary," he recalled. "What on earth must the country's teachers think, let alone me? I'm not surprised Ruth has gone but I'm a bit upset because I had just set up my latest meeting with her.

"The day after I met Charles Clarke, he got moved on," continued Oliver. "Then I got to know Ruth and she's got moved on. There's always the same bloody excuse which is 'I've just started'. Now we're on our third education secretary"

Education officials deny there is a delay. "We are already delivering on our promise to transform school meals and undo decades of neglect," said a spokesman. "This year we have already paid some £60 million to schools and LEAs to help them deliver healthier meals, with millions more to follow over the next two years.

"We have set out a clear timetable for reform, and there is no question of us taking our foot off the accelerator.

"New minimum standards for school lunches will be introduced in all schools by this September, which will effectively ban low quality foods high in fat, salt and sugar.