Contributions
1,529 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Free School MealsI thank the hon. Lady for highlighting another Government initiative—FareShare receives considerable support from the Government, as do such schemes as Magic Breakfast, in…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsMy hon. Friend raises a really important point, which I was going to come to, about the important role that the holiday activities and food programme has played in making a real…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI am looking forward with enthusiasm to turning to the hon. Gentleman, but let me just finish addressing the points made by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI know that the hon. Gentleman is a man who has great passion for and belief in the subject of education and how we support the most vulnerable people in society, and he raises an…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI do apologise, but Mr Deputy Speaker has been quite clear about wanting me to make progress, and I would best do so. During the unprecedented and unpredictable period at the…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsThat is what is so incredibly important about our free school meals programme, which originally came into existence in 1906 and has evolved considerably since. The programme has…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI know that the hon. Lady is eager to intervene—I am sure that it is an interchangeable point that she can probably make at any time in my speech. If I could make some progress, I…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI am going to give way to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Munira Wilson) before the hon. Lady, but first I will make just a little bit more progress. In this unprecedented time,…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI give way to my hon. Friend.21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI think it is fair to say that Members on both sides of the House are united in their commitment to drive out poverty and to make sure that children do not go hungry. We will do…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI will make some progress, and then I will give way to the hon. Lady. In March we took the unprecedented step of asking schools to close to all but a very small number of…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsMy hon. Friend raises important points about what is temporary and what is permanent. Indeed, there seems to be some disagreement here, because the hon. Member for Stretford and…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsI will give way to my hon. Friend, but I hope Members will forgive me if I then make some progress.21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point about learning for children. He has the privilege of representing a beautiful and rural part of the world, and he knows some of the…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsMy hon. Friend points out that this is a challenge that both parties face. There is a sense of commitment on the Conservative Benches to make a real and long-lasting difference to…21 Oct 2020HANSARD Free School MealsThe hon. Lady will probably remember that it was a coalition Government that the Liberal Democrats were part of. We are proud that the UK Government have provided free school…21 Oct 2020HANSARDEducational AttainmentMy Department is committed to raising standards across the country and levelling up opportunities for all. Our £1 billion covid recovery package includes a £350 million national…12 Oct 2020HANSARDAccess to Education: Local LockdownsMy hon. Friend and constituency neighbour is right to highlight the brilliant work at Penn Fields School that serves not only his constituents, but mine as well. I will, if I may,…12 Oct 2020HANSARDSchools: Summer 2021 Exam SeriesThis Government have always made the education of young people a priority. We are determined to make sure that when the time comes, young people are able to take the next step in…12 Oct 2020HANSARDSpecial Schools: Covid-19All schools are issued with sets of testing kit, and they have the ability to order more via the NHS portal. I would be very happy to look at the two points highlighted by my hon.…12 Oct 2020