Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living Support: Devolved Administrations

Monday 29 January 2024 · 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 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Patricia Gibson inquired about recent discussions with devolved Administrations on providing additional financial support for school pupils amid rising living costs.
  • The UK Education Ministers Council last convened in June of the previous year, hosted by the Secretary of State in Liverpool.
  • The Minister highlighted the UK Government's extension of free school meals eligibility, noting that currently one in three pupils in England are eligible, compared to one in six under the Labour government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP
Education
Context

The cost of living has increased, prompting discussions on additional financial support for school pupils. The UK Education Ministers Council last met in June the previous year.

Question

Whether she has had recent discussions with her counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the potential merits of providing additional financial support for school pupils in the context of increases in the cost of living.

Answer from Damian Hinds

I agree that, given all that the UK has in common, it is vital that we talk about policy issues frequently, including on devolved matters. The UK Education Ministers Council last met in June last year, when it was hosted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in Liverpool. I understand it is for the Scottish Government to issue the invitation for the next one—we await their missive with anticipation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked about recent discussions on providing additional financial support, but the answer focused on the importance of regular policy discussions and highlighted when the last meeting occurred without addressing current discussions or merits of additional financial support.

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Q2 Patricia Gibson SNP
Education Scotland
Context

The Scottish Government are rolling out universal free school meals for primary school children, aiming to promote cognitive development and improve test scores and concentration. This initiative addresses educational inequality.

Question

Expanding free school meals has a direct impact on children's health, promoting cognitive development and improving test scores and concentration. The Scottish Government are rolling out universal free school meals for primary school children. What additional financial efforts will the Minister make to address educational inequality, such as supporting and following the example of the Scottish Government to improve outcomes for all pupils?

Answer from Damian Hinds

We await the Scottish Government's full programme, but I will say that, in recognition of the benefits of free school meals and targeting them where they can have most effect, one in every three pupils in England are now eligible for free school meals, compared with one in six when Labour was in Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked about additional financial efforts to support free school meals, but the answer provided statistics on current eligibility rates and compared them to previous government numbers without addressing new financial efforts or commitments.

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Q3 Carol Monaghan SNP
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The UK Government has not extended free school meals to children in households receiving universal credit. The Children's Commissioner for England recently urged the UK Government to expand free school meals.

Question

To be clear, the UK Government will not even extend free school meals to children in households receiving universal credit. Speaking in Parliament two weeks ago, the Children's Commissioner for England urged the UK Government to expand free school meals, saying that children with an empty belly cannot learn. When will this Government follow Scotland's lead in addressing child poverty by rolling out free school meals to all primary school children?

Answer from Damian Hinds

We have extended eligibility for free school meals on three occasions, mainly with universal infant free school meals, the extension of further education students and, most recently, by extending the protections for people in transition on universal credit. I say gently to the hon. Lady that we think it is important to target free school meals, but that it is just as important for children in secondary school as in primary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked about rolling out free school meals to all primary school children, but the answer focused on past extensions and emphasized targeting rather than providing a timeline or commitment.

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