Independent Schools: VAT Exemption
Earl of Devon Excerpts(2 months, 2 weeks ago)
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The Earl of Devon (CB)
My Lords, it seems that this is a debate somewhat about privilege and so I should declare some privileges as I start. The first is the privilege to listen to such an interesting, balanced and informative debate. The second is the privilege I enjoy, having gone to Eton College, which got a rather stupid student into Cambridge University. The third is the privilege I had of sending my children to state primary and secondary schools in Devon, where the education was excellent and they did very well. Fourthly, I should note the privilege I currently have of hosting Kenton Primary School at Powderham Castle—it moved in this week and therefore I am the landlord of a state primary school.
I am not an education expert and was not going to speak in this debate but I was encouraged to by the experience of the people I know locally, particularly families with SEN children and military service families. On SEN children, I really cannot add much more than what the noble Lord, Lord Addington, said, except to note that Covid has obviously been brutal on children’s mental health. It has also been brutal on the mental health services that support our children. The thought that those wholly stretched services are going to have to deal with a whole raft of additional applications for education, health and care plans at short notice when they are considerably understaffed beggars belief, and I cannot believe that the Labour Government really intend to do that in January and cause so much additional burden and stress for these families who are in great need.
On military families, I spoke to my sister this morning. Her husband commands in the south Atlantic and she is flying off to the Falklands tomorrow. She has just packed her children off to boarding school, where they are safe and will have a consistent education. They have no idea how they are going to afford that education on their military salary. I think it is particularly cruel to those people who give so much for the defence of our realm for us to be putting them in this state at this time.
Lastly, it is difficult to say anything new after such an erudite debate, but Mrs Helen Mason, who has informed me a lot about the condition of SEND children, points out that Articles 28 and 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child may well be implicated in this policy. I ask the Minister to comment on that.
School Meals for Children
Earl of Devon Excerpts(8 months ago)
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Baroness Barran (Con)
I am not sure whether I have to declare my interest as the mother of a chef. I think careers in hospitality are great, but I might be slightly biased. I have already responded on where food and healthy eating fit within the curriculum. We take this very seriously. The specific case that was alluded to in the media related to a PFI contract. Obviously, that gives greater constraints on the ability of a school to negotiate with, or potentially even change, suppliers.
The Earl of Devon (CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the best source of food for schools is locally sourced, sustainably grown produce from identifiable farms that have an educational relationship with the school through which they teach children how and where their food is made? If so, will she encourage local procurement of school food?
Baroness Barran (Con)
I am more than happy to encourage that. Just to take it one stage further, I encourage schools that have the space to follow the example of some schools that I have visited that have their own allotments and grow some of their own food. Some of them keep chickens, for example, and eat their own eggs for breakfast. That is also a great approach.