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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Dec 2015
Oral Answers to Questions

"16. What steps he is taking to improve productivity in the economy...."
Richard Arkless - View Speech

View all Richard Arkless (SNP - Dumfries and Galloway) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Dec 2015
Oral Answers to Questions

"Productivity has been the Achilles heel of this Government’s economic policy. Comparisons with G7 countries are poor, and the figures are even worse when compared with those for smaller to medium-sized and—dare I say?—independent countries. Is it not the case that the Government have been completely obsessed with austerity, and …..."
Richard Arkless - View Speech

View all Richard Arkless (SNP - Dumfries and Galloway) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Free School Meals
Friday 23rd October 2015

Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's proposed changes to tax credits on the number of children able to access free school meals.

Answered by Sam Gyimah

The government’s changes to tax credits will have no effect on the number of children accessing free school meals (FSM) in England. All households receiving out-of-work benefits continue to be entitled to FSM, while changes to Child Tax Credit will have no impact. The number of children growing up in workless households has decreased by 480,000 since 2010, a record low. This has led to the number of households claiming FSM decreasing and we expect this to continue as the economy continues to improve.