Free School Meals

Debate between Ian Lavery and Stephen Morgan

Thursday 5th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan]

We have invested more than £200 million in the holiday activities and food programme, which supports children, offers enrichment opportunities and provides good-quality food during the Christmas, Easter and summer provision. That is a fantastic programme that I know Members across this House welcome, and a key part of our plan to ensure that every child can succeed and thrive.

[Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) (Lab)]

I warmly welcome this fantastic news this morning. I think the Minister mentioned that child poverty is a scourge of society, and of course it is. It is a blight on the UK that we have so many kids who do not have a full belly when they go to school. Some 6,000 children in my constituency will now benefit from this announcement. However, can the Minister confirm that this is only the first step on a long road to universal free school meals for all children in the UK?

[Stephen Morgan]

Extensive work is ongoing on child poverty, and we will publish our strategy later this year. As part of that, we are considering all available levers to give every child the best start in life—whether that is on affordable housing, the cost of energy bills or supporting more parents to work. That, I think, is the change that our country needs.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ian Lavery and Stephen Morgan

Monday 4th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan]

We want to make sure that every school and college across our country is a safe environment for children to learn. I am happy to meet the hon. Member to understand those issues in more detail.

[Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) (Lab)]

3. What steps she plans to take to improve the pay, terms and conditions of teaching assistants and support staff.