Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment of the level of alternative provision in the event that a school catering company collapses as a result of food, labour and energy cost increases.

The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies.

We routinely consider contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.

Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the School Food Standards.

There is no evidence to suggest widespread disruption to education as a result of issues with food supply but in the event of any disruption to supply, we will work with councils and the sector to ensure nutritious meals can continue to be provided.