House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

School Breakfast Provision

Monday 1 March 2021 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

Government is investing up to 38 million in the national school breakfast programme
The programme provides meals in 2,450 disadvantaged schools
Government is considering options for provision beyond July this year

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields

Education

Context

The question arises from the need for adequate school breakfast provisions in disadvantaged areas. The current programme covers only a small percentage of eligible schools and is set to end soon.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of school breakfast provision throughout England? Pre-pandemic, up to 2 million children started their day without breakfast. My School Breakfast Bill would extend and scale up provision via funds from the soft drinks levy.

Answer from Vicky Ford

We are investing up to £38 million in the national school breakfast programme, which provides meals in 2,450 disadvantaged schools. The programme extends until July this year, and we are considering options for provision beyond that date. We expect to provide more details soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked specifically about implementing her bill through the Chancellor's budget, which was not addressed.

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Q2 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields

Education

Context

The current school breakfast programme covers only a small percentage of eligible schools and is set to end soon. The questioner wants to extend and scale up the provision.

Question

I thank the Minister for her response, but unfortunately the Government's current school breakfast programme only provides for 7% of schools that meet the Government's deprivation criteria, and it ends in July. Pre-pandemic, up to 2 million children were starting their school day without a breakfast. My School Breakfast Bill would extend and scale up provision via funds from the soft drinks levy. Please can she ask the Chancellor to implement my Bill and get breakfast into the Budget?