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1361284

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Meals: Supply Chains
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the school food industry on supply chain issues affecting that industry.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>The department holds regular meetings with food industry representatives and with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, covering a variety of issues.</p><p>There is no evidence to suggest widespread disruption to education as a result of issues with food supply and the department will continue to expect schools to meet the School Food Standards. Schools have a great deal of flexibility in the foods that they can deliver under the School Food Standards. If a particular product is not readily available for any reason, the standards allow schools a wide range of freedom to substitute in similar foods that are available. It is commonplace for schools and caterers to regularly review their menus. More information on the School Food Standards can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58768 58771 58772 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:48:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361285

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Meals: Supply Chains
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on supply chain issues impacting the school meals sector.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58768
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>The department holds regular meetings with food industry representatives and with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, covering a variety of issues.</p><p>There is no evidence to suggest widespread disruption to education as a result of issues with food supply and the department will continue to expect schools to meet the School Food Standards. Schools have a great deal of flexibility in the foods that they can deliver under the School Food Standards. If a particular product is not readily available for any reason, the standards allow schools a wide range of freedom to substitute in similar foods that are available. It is commonplace for schools and caterers to regularly review their menus. More information on the School Food Standards can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58767 58771 58772 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:48:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361286

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing funding for universal free school meals for infants in the next Spending Review.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58769
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>We spend around £600 million per year ensuring 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy in 2014. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools are entitled to receive a free meal. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.</p><p>The funding of UIFSM is allocated via a grant to schools, funded at a rate of £2.34 per meal. This grant was last increased for the 2020/21 academic year and covers the cost of raw materials as well as other fixed costs associated with providing the meals. It is for individual schools to decide how to allocate their budgets in order to provide these meals.</p><p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is currently experiencing a significant demand for its services as organisations start to recruit staff following lockdown, for example during September and October it saw an increase of over 20% in demand for standard and enhanced checks. However, the DBS continues to deliver its services in line with its Published Service Standards which are available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fdbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ce1df4c92d0814e2bb49208d993aba6e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637703187703426729%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UiwGKr%2BqaxSILbwMQHO1%2FVxQCpeRyMTK%2By132TKbgXo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions</a>. Despite increased demand largely driven by COVID-19 responses and the gig economy, particularly online shopping and food delivery, the DBS has consistently exceeded its operational targets.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other school food stakeholders, including the Local Authority Caterers Association, the representative body for school caterers, as well as food industry representatives covering a variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58770 58774 58775 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:44:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361287

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the impact of not increasing the cost of universal infants free school meals on the (a) quality of the meals provided and (b) ability for the industry to retain and recruit staff.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58770
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>We spend around £600 million per year ensuring 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy in 2014. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools are entitled to receive a free meal. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.</p><p>The funding of UIFSM is allocated via a grant to schools, funded at a rate of £2.34 per meal. This grant was last increased for the 2020/21 academic year and covers the cost of raw materials as well as other fixed costs associated with providing the meals. It is for individual schools to decide how to allocate their budgets in order to provide these meals.</p><p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is currently experiencing a significant demand for its services as organisations start to recruit staff following lockdown, for example during September and October it saw an increase of over 20% in demand for standard and enhanced checks. However, the DBS continues to deliver its services in line with its Published Service Standards which are available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fdbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ce1df4c92d0814e2bb49208d993aba6e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637703187703426729%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UiwGKr%2BqaxSILbwMQHO1%2FVxQCpeRyMTK%2By132TKbgXo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions</a>. Despite increased demand largely driven by COVID-19 responses and the gig economy, particularly online shopping and food delivery, the DBS has consistently exceeded its operational targets.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other school food stakeholders, including the Local Authority Caterers Association, the representative body for school caterers, as well as food industry representatives covering a variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58769 58774 58775 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:44:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361288

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Meals: Finance and Supply Chains
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he last met with representatives of the school food industry to discuss (a) funding and (b) supply chain issues impacting the industry.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58771
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>The department holds regular meetings with food industry representatives and with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, covering a variety of issues.</p><p>There is no evidence to suggest widespread disruption to education as a result of issues with food supply and the department will continue to expect schools to meet the School Food Standards. Schools have a great deal of flexibility in the foods that they can deliver under the School Food Standards. If a particular product is not readily available for any reason, the standards allow schools a wide range of freedom to substitute in similar foods that are available. It is commonplace for schools and caterers to regularly review their menus. More information on the School Food Standards can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58767 58768 58772 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:48:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361289

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Meals: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has met with the school food industry to discuss staff recruitment and retention challenges in that sector.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>The department holds regular meetings with food industry representatives and with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, covering a variety of issues.</p><p>There is no evidence to suggest widespread disruption to education as a result of issues with food supply and the department will continue to expect schools to meet the School Food Standards. Schools have a great deal of flexibility in the foods that they can deliver under the School Food Standards. If a particular product is not readily available for any reason, the standards allow schools a wide range of freedom to substitute in similar foods that are available. It is commonplace for schools and caterers to regularly review their menus. More information on the School Food Standards can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58767 58768 58771 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:48:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361290

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Meals: Supply Chains
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there are contingencies in place to ensure that schools continue to receive food in the event of supply chain issues.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. The department is confident that schools will continue to be able to provide pupils with nutritious school meals and there is no evidence to suggest widespread disruption to education as a result of issues with food supply.</p><p>The department will continue to expect schools to meet the School Food Standards and schools have a great deal of flexibility in the foods that they can deliver under the School Food Standards. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the School Food Standards. More information on the School Food Standards can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 27/10/2021 16:49:25 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361291

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Meals: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has investigated the (a) time taken for DBS checks and (b) effect that is having on staff availability in the school meals sector.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>We spend around £600 million per year ensuring 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy in 2014. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools are entitled to receive a free meal. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.</p><p>The funding of UIFSM is allocated via a grant to schools, funded at a rate of £2.34 per meal. This grant was last increased for the 2020/21 academic year and covers the cost of raw materials as well as other fixed costs associated with providing the meals. It is for individual schools to decide how to allocate their budgets in order to provide these meals.</p><p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is currently experiencing a significant demand for its services as organisations start to recruit staff following lockdown, for example during September and October it saw an increase of over 20% in demand for standard and enhanced checks. However, the DBS continues to deliver its services in line with its Published Service Standards which are available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fdbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ce1df4c92d0814e2bb49208d993aba6e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637703187703426729%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UiwGKr%2BqaxSILbwMQHO1%2FVxQCpeRyMTK%2By132TKbgXo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions</a>. Despite increased demand largely driven by COVID-19 responses and the gig economy, particularly online shopping and food delivery, the DBS has consistently exceeded its operational targets.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other school food stakeholders, including the Local Authority Caterers Association, the representative body for school caterers, as well as food industry representatives covering a variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58769 58770 58775 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:44:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361293

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Meals: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of delays in DBS checks on staffing levels in the school meals industry.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>We spend around £600 million per year ensuring 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy in 2014. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools are entitled to receive a free meal. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.</p><p>The funding of UIFSM is allocated via a grant to schools, funded at a rate of £2.34 per meal. This grant was last increased for the 2020/21 academic year and covers the cost of raw materials as well as other fixed costs associated with providing the meals. It is for individual schools to decide how to allocate their budgets in order to provide these meals.</p><p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is currently experiencing a significant demand for its services as organisations start to recruit staff following lockdown, for example during September and October it saw an increase of over 20% in demand for standard and enhanced checks. However, the DBS continues to deliver its services in line with its Published Service Standards which are available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fdbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ce1df4c92d0814e2bb49208d993aba6e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637703187703426729%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UiwGKr%2BqaxSILbwMQHO1%2FVxQCpeRyMTK%2By132TKbgXo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions</a>. Despite increased demand largely driven by COVID-19 responses and the gig economy, particularly online shopping and food delivery, the DBS has consistently exceeded its operational targets.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other school food stakeholders, including the Local Authority Caterers Association, the representative body for school caterers, as well as food industry representatives covering a variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58769 58770 58774 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:44:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361294

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Vacancies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has contingencies in place to ensure that HGV drivers are available to deliver school meals during the period of driver shortages and supply chain issues.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	58776
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>The Department for Transport is committed to finding solutions to mitigate the effects of the HGV driver shortage and has already taken 25 proactive actions in recent weeks.</p><p>The Government routinely considers contingency arrangements and expects schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 27/10/2021 16:00:28 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson