Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Monday 23 October 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The holiday activities and food programme supported 685,000 children last summer.
  • Local authorities should offer programmes for older children and those with special educational needs.
  • Two thirds of the 700,000 children attending the programme live in some of the most deprived areas across the country.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Caroline Ansell Con
Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the need to assess the effectiveness of a government program designed to support children during school holidays.

Question

What recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the holiday activities and food programme. I am concerned about the positive impacts these programmes are having on issues such as improving attendance, health, behaviour, and confidence in children.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The holiday activities and food programme supported 685,000 children last summer. One child in Stoke increased their school attendance by 32% and is no longer considered persistently absent. The programmes improve health, behaviour and confidence in children.

Answered
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Q2 Caroline Ansell Con
Children & Families
Context

The question follows from the initial assessment of the effectiveness of the HAF programme, focusing on providing more opportunities for specific groups.

Question

Given that there is a connection between attendance and HAF uptake, what more can we do to provide and promote opportunities for children and young people with SEND, and also for the 11-plus and early teens?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

HAF was open to children from ages five to 16, and local authorities should meet the needs of all cohorts. Local authorities should offer programmes for older children and those with special educational needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans or actions for supporting SEND children and early teens were not provided.

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Q3 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The question stems from the need to address the increasing demand for HAF schemes, especially in light of the cost of living crisis.

Question

Does the Minister have any plans to extend the scheme further? There is obviously a lot more need than the current HAF schemes can meet, especially with the cost of living crisis. I visited my local HAF in Washington over the last few summers and will continue to do so at Christmas.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

685,000 children were helped just this summer. Two thirds of the 700,000 children attending live in some of the most deprived areas across the country. We believe we are getting the targeting right and want to ensure it benefits as many people as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans or actions for extending the scheme were not provided.

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