Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

School Meals: Hull

22 January 2020 · 4 other contributors

Opened by Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North

EducationBenefits & Welfare

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Diana R. Johnson raised concerns about school meals: hull in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the doubling of school meal prices in Hull from 50p to 1 in January 2019.
  • The hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North initiated the debate to challenge the decision.
  • The Minister offered to meet Members to discuss the subject and examine eligibility criteria.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North

It is very nice to see you back in your place, Mr Deputy Speaker... The scheme that Hull City Council entered into with its academies was of particular benefit to them. That brings me to why I initiated this debate, and to what has happened over the last 12 months. In January 2019 the price of a school meal in Hull, which had been 50p, doubled to £1 after academy heads decided to reduce their schools’ contributions to the subsidy funding agreement... This is extremely disappointing, as Hull’s strong reputation for supporting healthy, low-cost school meals cannot simply be abandoned. For me, politics is about standing up when something is not right, rolling up my sleeves and fighting to challenge it.

Other contributors (4)
  • Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Sunderland West

    My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech on a very important subject... I absolutely agree with her.

  • Lyn Brown Lab Torbay

    As my hon. Friend is saying, there is undeniably a link between educational attainment and free school meals...

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    First, I congratulate the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson) on bringing this debate forward... Does she feel, as I do, that when it comes to making provision for those who are at the bottom of the poverty level and who need our help to get at least one square meal a day, the Government need to respond in a very positive way?

  • Andrew Percy Con Brigg and Goole

    In a moment.

Government Response

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills

Michelle Donelan

I congratulate the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Dame Diana Johnson) on securing this important debate... I am more than happy to meet the hon. Member, or any other Member, to discuss this subject or any other within my brief, because these are important topics and there is a lot of mileage in what has been brought up today. We have committed to review this once the roll-out of universal credit is finished, and I will ensure that I personally examine the eligibility criteria... Our work goes beyond the school gates. The Government’s holiday activities and food programme supports disadvantaged children to access healthy food and enriching activities over the school holidays, which is vital...

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