Written Question
Monday 27th February 2017
Asked by:
Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to incorporate the March 2016 revisions to the Eatwell Guide into the planned update to the School Food Standards.
Answered by Edward Timpson
The new School Food Standards came into force in January 2015 and were informed by an Expert Panel of nutritional experts and industry representatives. The new standards were tested by 31 schools and 24 caterers from across England, overseen by a group of school catering experts and nutritionists, with positive outcomes. Trials showed that the new standards are popular with cooks and the menus were as good as the nutrient-based ones under the previous standards.
As part of the Department’s work to tackle childhood obesity, we have committed to reviewing the School Food Standards to align with the latest scientific advice on sugar. We are in the process of scoping out the timelines for this piece of work and further information will be available later in the year.
The revised Eatwell guide is also distributed to schools to use alongside the school food standards and continues to define the government’s recommendations on a healthy balanced diet.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 01 Dec 2016
Transgender Equality
"The right hon. Lady mentions health, and the constituents who have contacted me felt that was an area of great inequality. Does she think it is a disgrace and very worrying that 54% of trans people have been told by their GPs that they do not know enough about trans-related …..."Mary Glindon - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Oct 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"5. What assessment she has made of the potential effect of her Department’s proposed changes to apprenticeship funding rates on the take-up of apprenticeships. ..."Mary Glindon - View Speech
View all Mary Glindon (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Oct 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"A recent National Audit Office report condemned the lack of contingency planning for apprenticeship funding reform. How does the Minister hope to address that?..."Mary Glindon - View Speech
View all Mary Glindon (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Jun 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"5. What discussions he has had with online retailers on the sale of counterfeit electrical goods...."Mary Glindon - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Jun 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"Research undertaken by Electrical Safety First has found that 64% of counterfeit products are now purchased online, with sales via social media increasing by 15% every year. Have the Government considered the impact of this trend on consumers and the industry itself?..."Mary Glindon - View Speech
View all Mary Glindon (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 12 Mar 2015
Education Regulations and Faith Schools
"I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate. Does he agree that what is important is the teaching of religious education in all schools so that all children can understand religions and non-religions as they progress through school? We should have proper RE teachers to give young people the …..."Mary Glindon - View Speech
View all Mary Glindon (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) contributions to the debate on: Education Regulations and Faith Schools
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 08 Jan 2015
Oral Answers to Questions
"T4. What does the Minister have to say to members of the Alliance for Inclusive Education, who consider that his requirement for disabled students to contribute £200 towards their computer equipment funded by the disabled students allowance is unacceptable and discriminatory?..."Mary Glindon - View Speech
View all Mary Glindon (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Jul 2014
Oral Answers to Questions
"Local authorities have warned of a £20 million shortfall in capital for the introduction of universal free school meals. What cuts does the Minister expect schools to make to deliver on this Government imperative?..."Mary Glindon - View Speech
View all Mary Glindon (Lab - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Monday 21st July 2014
Asked by:
Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on closing the attainment gap between pupils receiving free school meals and others; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by David Laws
The gap between free school meals (FSM) pupils and others achieving Level 4 or above in key stage 2 reading and mathematics has narrowed from 19.3 to 16.2 percentage points between 2011 and 2013. The gap in FSM pupils and others achieving at least five A*-C grade GCSEs including English and mathematics has narrowed from 27.4 to 26.7 percentage points over the same period.
The most recent Ofsted assessment is that school leaders are spending the pupil premium more effectively than at any time since the funding was introduced in 2011. Of 151 schools in the assessment, the attainment gap between free school meal pupils and their peers was closing, sometimes quite quickly, in all 86 schools judged by Ofsted to be good or outstanding. Gaps are also closing, albeit more slowly, in two thirds of the 50 sampled schools rated ‘requires improvement’.