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Remote Education and Free School Meals
18 January 2021
Lead MP
Kate Green
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Education
Other Contributors: 41
At a Glance
Kate Green raised concerns about remote education and free school meals in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Ms. Green moved that the House believes families need more support during school and college closures, including guaranteed free school meals throughout holidays and resources for remote learning, criticising the government's slow response to providing devices and food aid.
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral West
Critiques the Government's failure in providing adequate support during school closures, highlighting issues with device provision and free school meals. Emphasises the importance of ensuring all children can learn remotely and receive full value meal support.
Bury South
Praised the Oak National Academy for launching its virtual library, which enables children to both learn and read.
Corrected the impression that only private companies were supplying food parcels last week; many packages in Birmingham came from Cityserve, a local council catering company. He emphasised the need for cooperation rather than division when addressing these issues.
Steve Brine
Con
Winchester
Highlighted Hampshire County Council's Connect4communities programme, which includes a discretionary schools grant, holiday play scheme, and free school meal vouchers. The council is spending £2.9 million from the covid winter grant to support families in Winchester.
Rosie Winterton
Lab
Rother Valley
The Secretary of State has not moved the selected amendment and the Question before the House remains as on the Order Paper. She sets a three-minute limit for Back-Bench speeches following the SNP spokesperson's speech.
Carol Monaghan
SNP
Glasgow North West
Supports the motion, emphasising that children need basic necessities like food and warmth for successful learning. Praises the Scottish Government’s commitment to free school meals and introduces a child payment initiative. Criticises private companies profiteering from hungry children and calls on the UK Government to follow Scotland's example by providing direct financial support. Advocates for quick provision of digital devices and access to online resources, questioning delays in funding delivery. Urges prioritising teachers for vaccination.
Robert Halfon
Con
Harlow
Supports the Government's comprehensive package that includes £220 million for holiday activities and food programme, £60 million for frontline food charities, £170 million for local authorities to spend on essential items. Urges use of unaccounted sugar levy money to expand school breakfast programmes. Welcomes government guidance on remote learning but calls for more focus on early intervention and welfare system reform. Emphasises the importance of teacher vaccinations and risk assessments for school reopening.
Gill Furniss
Lab
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Critiques the Government's handling of free school meals, highlighting inadequacies in provided food boxes. Calls on the Government to ensure no child goes hungry through further action beyond current measures. Discusses challenges with critical worker eligibility leading to oversubscribed schools. Highlights significant number of children without suitable devices and connectivity issues, urging immediate provision for home learning.
Bury South
Welcomed a more holistic approach to food strategy, acknowledging the Government's efforts on school meals and devices. Called for a broader view on tackling child hunger and attainment gap, including sugary drinks levy and School Breakfast Bill.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
Emphasised the importance of free school meals in the north-west, highlighting the number of children who rely on them. Criticised the Government for failing to comprehend the reality faced by these families and called for immediate action.
Damian Hinds
Con
East Hampshire
Stressed the importance of nourishment for learning, highlighting the extension of support during holidays. Supported the covid winter grant scheme and expressed hope to maintain and extend holiday food programmes. Acknowledged challenges in remote learning but emphasised the need for a balanced approach.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
Critiqued the Government's response, citing data from Birmingham schools showing significant technology shortages. Highlighted severe issues in connectivity and Department for Education responsiveness. Urged community action to fill gaps left by government failure.
Expressed admiration for teachers providing online support during the pandemic and emphasised the need for a national education recovery plan. Acknowledged the importance of digital learning in universities despite challenges, arguing against reducing university fees due to the cost of online resources.
Sharon Hodgson
Lab
Washington and Gateshead South
Highlighted the importance of free school meals and criticised recent food parcels provided to families. Advocated for cash transfers as a better solution, emphasising the need for healthy meals when schools reopen. Raised concerns about limited access to devices for online learning.
Acknowledged the difficulty of the pandemic and praised the Government’s support measures such as holiday free school meals and remote learning device provision, but also emphasised the importance of tailoring these measures to those most in need. Pledged continued work with local authorities to improve life chances for young people.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Critiqued the Government’s response regarding free school meals and laptop provision, emphasising the digital divide and the struggles faced by low-income families. Praised local efforts to bridge these gaps and called for a comprehensive review of free school meals.
Feryal Clark
Lab
Enfield North
She criticises the Government's lack of support for teachers, school staff, and childcare providers. She calls for immediate action to guarantee full value free school meals in holidays and equipment for remote learning. She highlights inadequacies such as unmet laptop requirements and insufficient food parcels.
Tom Hunt
Con
Chippenham
He supports the Government's efforts in providing support to children during the pandemic, highlighting the £170 million winter grant scheme and more than £200 million committed to holiday activities. He emphasises that some decisions are made locally and vary in quality.
Barry Sheerman
Lab
Huddersfield
He pleads for trust in parents and teachers, advocating for cash payments over food parcels due to division issues. He also emphasises the importance of training and support for using technology effectively during remote learning.
David Johnston
Con
Wantage
Expressed gratitude for staff efforts during the pandemic and acknowledged government spending on educational support. Criticised the National Education Union's stance as a barrier to effective remote learning, questioning Labour's approach to reopening schools.
Julie Elliott
Lab
Sunderland Central
Emphasised the digital divide and its exacerbation during the pandemic. Highlighted government delays in addressing digital exclusion and the inadequacy of free school meals policy, urging for substantial improvements to support children's education.
David Evennett
Con
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Praised teachers and staff for their efforts during the pandemic. Acknowledged challenges but commended government actions in providing resources and standards for remote learning, expressing concerns over school closures and remote learning limitations.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
Linked poverty issues with free school meals debates, criticising the privatisation of services and highlighting inequalities in access to technology and education. Urged for a return to universal welfare models like free broadband and free school meals.
Jonathan Gullis
Con
Stoke-on-Trent North
Delivered remote education is challenging, particularly for those without adequate technology and connectivity at home. The Government has spent £400 million to support schools moving to remote provision, including 700,000 laptops and tablets, and a winter support package of £170 million was announced to tackle holiday hunger over the winter period.
Paula Barker
Lab
Liverpool Wavertree
The digital lottery is hindering children's life chances. In early 2020, Ofcom estimated that between 1.4 million and 1.78 million UK children under the age of 18 lived in households without access to a laptop or tablet, with up to half a million having no internet access at home. The Government’s decision to relax criteria for child attendance results in dangerously high rates; Northway Primary School ordered 37 iPads from the DfE but only received them on January 13, demonstrating a lack of preparedness.
Giles Watling
Con
Carshalton and Wallington
Remote learning disadvantages vulnerable pupils who may not have adequate resources at home. Significant investment has been made in remote education but children need interaction with their peers for mental health reasons, underlining the importance of reopening schools safely as soon as possible. Teachers should be prioritised for vaccination to feel safe and secure when returning.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Free school meals are critical for struggling families but there have been issues with food package quality and distribution during the pandemic. Children in one primary school received boxes of inadequate food from a preferred provider; the public is frustrated by this inconsistent policy. The Government should consider extending free meal provision to holidays.
John Howell
Con
Henley
Impressed with the £400 million spent and 1.3 million laptops ordered for children's education during remote learning, but highlighted issues like broadband access in rural areas and the need to monitor excessive teaching hours. Asked about measures to help blind students participate in remote learning.
Miriam Cates
Con
Penistone and Stocksbridge
Acknowledged the challenges faced by children due to the pandemic, praised teachers for their efforts in delivering virtual lessons, and commended the government's provision of 1.3 million devices to schools. Also mentioned the importance of a rapid return to classrooms.
Emma Lewell-Buck
Lab
South Shields
Dismayed at the ongoing issue of child hunger during the pandemic, questioned why food banks are still being used despite government schemes and grants. Criticised the government for not proactively ensuring access to nutritional food and highlighted issues with the allocation of soft drinks levy funds.
Gary Sambrook
Con
Birmingham, Northfield
Reported on feedback from headteachers regarding free school meals and laptop provision in his constituency. Noted that vouchers were preferred over food packages due to flexibility, but also highlighted inadequacies in the food package scheme provided by Birmingham City Council. Emphasised the hard work of teachers and parents during remote learning.
Holly Lynch
Lab
Halifax
Pays tribute to teachers and local council for their resilience during the pandemic. Criticises the Government's unrealistic expectations of schools in introducing changes without sufficient notice or resources. Highlights the need for equipment such as laptops for remote learning, citing a specific case in Halifax where 171 more devices are required but unfulfilled by the Department for Education. Thanks local organisations for stepping up to provide support and criticises the Government's failure to do so adequately. Raises concerns about unfair financial penalties faced by schools due to reduced attendance.
Peter Gibson
Con
Darlington
Thanks teachers, headteachers, school staff, and Darlington Borough Council for their efforts during the pandemic. Acknowledges the Government's initiatives such as holiday activities and food programmes that ensure children do not go hungry or miss out on educational opportunities. Criticises Labour for a divisive agenda and hateful campaigns against the Government. Supports the Government’s commitment to delivering devices for remote learning, noting progress in Darlington where 70% of requested devices have been delivered. Defends the provision of free school meals and criticises misrepresentation by the Opposition.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South and Walkden
Due to technical issues, her contribution could not be heard clearly but she was acknowledged for intending to speak about home schooling provision.
Walsall South
Children cannot learn when hungry or malnourished; the Government's approach to food parcels was insulting, failing families by not providing free school meals during half-term breaks. They dithered over school closures, causing unnecessary stress and health risks for teachers and pupils.
Jack Brereton
Con
Stoke-on-Trent South
Ministers are working tirelessly despite challenging circumstances; however, the Government is not alone in responsibility. Teachers deserve thanks for efforts to continue learning amid lockdowns. Remote learning is insufficient and has led to performance gaps among disadvantaged pupils. School closures have serious consequences like increased domestic abuse cases and social care referrals.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South and Walkden
The provision of home schooling was inadequate last year due to budget constraints, with 700,000 students lacking internet access. The Government cut laptop allocation by 80%, now finding £100 million but needing £135 million more. GCSEs and A-levels were cancelled without decisions on BTECs; the lack of preparation is unacceptable. Child poverty has risen significantly since 2010, and food provision has been inadequate.
Chris Matheson
Lab
Cardiff South and Penarth
Children cannot learn when hungry or malnourished; the Government's approach to food parcels was insulting. Families are living on margins, relying on food banks and voluntary aid run by churches and community groups. The cost of living has risen because children have to stay and eat at home. Food banks are a mark of shame for society and the Government.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
He criticises the Department for Education’s failures in delivering free school meals, laptops and dongles, planning exams, funding schools, testing and reopening plans. He emphasises that if all MPs praise staff in schools but do not defend their leadership under this Secretary of State, then there is a problem. The Member suggests that even if the Government delivers 1.3 million laptops promised, it will still fall short of demand with 1.8 million children lacking access to devices at home.
Ms. Ford thanked Members who have spoken and recognised the importance of a nutritious lunch to help children concentrate while learning. She emphasised that no child should go hungry due to the pandemic, and criticised some lunch parcels as 'unacceptable', demanding high standards from suppliers. She also clarified that schools are responsible for their own caterers through local authorities, not the Government, and provided details on the current scheme's success with over 6,500 orders placed by schools worth £12.7 million. Additionally, she mentioned the reopening of the national voucher scheme and detailed plans for supporting vulnerable children throughout term-time and holiday periods via various grants and programmes.
Ms. Laing addressed procedural matters regarding voting on a motion, reminding Members that it is their choice to oppose the motion regardless of their party affiliation. She clarified the process of voting and indicated that if two Tellers vote against the motion, there will be a Division.
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