All 153 local authorities are participating in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme supported by over £200 million a year. The HAF programme provides free childcare places, enriching activities and heathy meals to children from low-income families, benefiting their heath, wellbeing and learning.<\/p>
The department knows that the longer school holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs, in particular childcare, and reduced incomes. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap. Children from disadvantaged families are less likely to access organised out-of-school activities and are more likely to experience \u2018unhealthy holidays\u2019 in terms of nutrition and physical health, as well as increased likelihood of experiencing social isolation.<\/p>
The HAF programme can offer these children stability, structure and support alongside fun, food and physical activities during the longer school holidays, and can help children to return to school feeling engaged and ready to learn.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stephen Morgan"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-17T16:19:00.067Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of her Department's spending on (a) activities and (b) provision of food during school holidays in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2023-24.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Damian Hinds"} ], "uin" : "5981"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506653", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1506653/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the right hon. Member for Knowsley to the answer I gave on 21 September 2022 to Question 45077<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-28T13:25:41.36Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he is taking steps to ensure that children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals have access to healthy meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4658", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Sobel"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alex Sobel"}
], "uin" : "51931"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1505920", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1505920/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Through the provision of free school means (FSM), together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, the greatest ever proportion of school children, 37.5%, are now provided with a free meal at lunchtime, at a cost of over £1 billion a year.<\/p> The department continues to monitor the situation surrounding the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. We do not have any plans to extend universal provision, but we will continue to review free school meal eligibility, to ensure that these meals are supporting the most disadvantaged, those out of work or on the lowest incomes. In setting a threshold, the department believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one. Extending FSM eligibility to all pupils would carry a significant financial cost.<\/p> The department is also providing over £200 million per year for the next three years to provide healthy food in the holidays via our Holiday Activities and Food programme, providing breakfast clubs in thousands of schools, as well as delivering the School Fruit and Vegetable scheme and wider government schemes such as Healthy Start vouchers.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "49213"}
, {"_value" : "49214"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-22T13:16:51.193Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to ensure that children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals have access to healthy meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4511", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ealing Central and Acton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Rupa Huq"}
], "uin" : "49212"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1505956", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1505956/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Through the provision of free school means (FSM), together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, the greatest ever proportion of school children, 37.5%, are now provided with a free meal at lunchtime, at a cost of over £1 billion a year.<\/p> The department continues to monitor the situation surrounding the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. We do not have any plans to extend universal provision, but we will continue to review free school meal eligibility, to ensure that these meals are supporting the most disadvantaged, those out of work or on the lowest incomes. In setting a threshold, the department believes that the current level \u2013 which enables children to benefit, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools \u2013 is the right one. Extending FSM eligibility to all pupils would carry a significant financial cost.<\/p> The department is also providing over £200 million per year for the next three years to provide healthy food in the holidays via our Holiday Activities and Food programme, providing breakfast clubs in thousands of schools, as well as delivering the School Fruit and Vegetable scheme and wider government schemes such as Healthy Start vouchers.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "49075"}
, {"_value" : "49077"}
, {"_value" : "49078"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-22T13:01:40.333Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to guarantee access to healthy meals for children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/415", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Fabian Hamilton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Fabian Hamilton"}
], "uin" : "49076"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1503475", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1503475/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The provision of free school meals (FSM) to children from out-of-work families or those on low incomes is of the utmost importance to this government. Under this government, eligibility for free school meals has been extended several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century. That includes the introduction of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and further education free meals, and a permanent extension to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to specified income thresholds.<\/p> The latest published statistics, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics<\/a>, show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming a free meal in school at lunch time. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021.<\/p> Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the UIFSM policy, the greatest ever proportion of school children, 37.5%, are now provided with a free meal at lunchtime, at a cost of over £1 billion a year.<\/p> The department continues to monitor the situation surrounding the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. The department thinks it is right that provision is aimed at supporting the most disadvantaged, those out of work or on the lowest incomes. The department does not have any plans to extend universal provision, but it will continue to keep free school meal eligibility under review, to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one. Extending free school meal eligibility to all pupils would carry a significant financial cost.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochester and Strood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kelly Tolhurst"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "45079"}
, {"_value" : "45377"}
, {"_value" : "45393"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-21T16:25:26.127Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the findings of Child Poverty Action Group, published on 9 June 2022, on the number of children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals, whether he is taking steps to ensure that all children living in poverty have access to healthy meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir George Howarth"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Knowsley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir George Howarth"}
], "uin" : "45077"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491035", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1491035/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The department has recently published data which includes free school meal (FSM) eligibility at national, regional, and local authority level. This can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics<\/a>. The latest statistics show that 26.5% of pupils in the West Midlands are eligible for FSM and 24.8% are eligible in Coventry. The national average for England is 22.5%.<\/p> The department recognises that pupils\u2019 health is improved and maintained by having a healthy, nourishing diet, which improves concentration and the ability to learn. The department spends over £1 billion each year on FSM, reaching around 1.9 million eligible children. It continues to supply a school meal to a further 1.25 million pupils through Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM).<\/p> Core schools funding to deliver benefit-related FSM has increased. This includes the FSM factor in the national funding formula (NFF), which has increased to £470 per eligible pupil this year. After the NFF rates were set, the department provided additional core funding through a schools supplementary grant. As a result, core mainstream schools funding is increasing by £2.5 billion in 2022/23, compared to last year. The per meal rate for UIFSM has also been increased to £2.41, backdated to April 2022, in recognition of recent cost pressures.<\/p> Beyond FSM, the government funds a wide range of further provision for children at different stages, particularly aimed at encouraging healthy eating from a young age. These include Healthy Start for eligible pregnant women and children under 4, free nursery milk for all under 5-year-olds, the school fruit and vegetable scheme for all children between 4 and 6 in state-funded schools, and breakfast clubs.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-05T07:51:43.097Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent he has made of the impact of the rising cost of living on the level of food insecurity amongst school children in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England; what assessment he has made of the effect of hunger on a child\u2019s ability to learn; and what steps his Department is taking to tackle food insecurity for children and their families in those areas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4378", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Colleen Fletcher"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry North East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Colleen Fletcher"}
], "uin" : "40803"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1488701", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1488701/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The department is investing over £200 million a year in its holiday activities and food programme to support families in England during the school holidays. This programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families. The provision is for school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals. Local authorities also have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide holiday club places for other children who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, but who the local authority believe could benefit from the provision.<\/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 providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.<\/p> The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. These are global challenges, that is why the government is providing over £15 billion in further support, targeted particularly on those with the greatest need. This package is in addition to the over £22 billion announced previously, with government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37 billion this year.<\/p> To support people who need additional welfare help, the government is providing an extra £500 million of local support in England, via the Household Support Fund, which is being extended to March 2023. This brings the total amount provided to £1.5 billion since October 2021.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-18T16:45:23.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential effect of inflation on the levels of access to food over the school holidays for children in living in low income families.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
], "uin" : "35998"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1488790", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1488790/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Under this government, free school meal eligibility has been extended several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century. This includes the introduction of universal infant free school meals, further education free meals, and the permanent extension of free school meals to some groups of children who have no recourse to public funds.<\/p> Under current criteria, in January 2022, 1.9 million pupils were eligible for and claiming a benefit-related free meal in school at lunch time, saving families hundreds of pounds a year per child. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 15% in 2015.<\/p> The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and is providing over £37 billion in support for the cost of living this year. This includes an extra £500 million of local support, which will be extended from this October to March 2023 to help those most in need with payments towards the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills. This brings the total amount provided through the Household Support Fund to £1.5 billion since October 2021. This is administered by local councils in England and helps those in most need with payments towards the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills.<\/p> In setting eligibility for free school meals, the government\u2019s position remains that it is right that provision is targeted at supporting the most disadvantaged, those out of work or on the lowest income. The department will continue to keep all free school meal eligibility under review, to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. 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 providing pupils with nutritious school meals, as required by the school food standards.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "36099"}
, {"_value" : "36100"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-21T16:38:48.087Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department is taking steps to guarantee access to healthy meals for children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4667", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Amesbury"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Weaver Vale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mike Amesbury"}
], "uin" : "36098"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1487297", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1487297/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/strong><\/p> Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.<\/p> <\/p> In England, the holiday activities and food programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families. This benefits their heath, wellbeing and learning, and contributes to recovery from COVID-19. This is supported by over £200 million funding each year.<\/p> To support people who need additional welfare help, the government is providing an extra £500 million of local support via the Household Support Fund, which is being extended to March 2023. This brings the total amount provided to £1.5 billion since October 2021.<\/p> <\/p> Devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett formula up to October 2022, and a further £79 million from October 2022 to March 2023.<\/p> <\/p> Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "32604"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-07-15T13:55:49.633Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Food"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of inflation on the levels of access to food over the school holidays for children in living in low income families.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4525", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Christina Rees"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Neath"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Christina Rees"}
], "uin" : "32605"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1241002", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1241002/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The free school meal national voucher scheme has now closed.<\/p> As schools and their kitchens are now open, they should provide healthy, nutritious meal options for all children who are in school, and meals should be available free of charge to all infant pupils and pupils who meet the benefits-related free school meals eligibility criteria.<\/p> Schools should work with their existing suppliers to provide meals or food parcels to pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals where they are self-isolating.<\/p> Guidance on food parcels has been produced by the Lead Association for Catering in Education, Public Health England and the department. It sets out some general principles for putting together a food parcel which will allow parents/carers to prepare simple and healthy lunches for their children at home. This can be found here: https://laca.co.uk/laca-view/free-school-meals-guidance-producing-food-parcels<\/a>.<\/p>