Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of free school breakfasts on school attendance in (1) early years, (2) primary school, and (3) secondary school, settings in England in the past 12 months.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Free breakfast clubs are for schools with primary-aged pupils, so that we make sure we give the youngest pupils the best start in life whilst helping parents with costs of childcare. Free breakfast clubs remove barriers to opportunity by offering primary school children, no matter their circumstance, a supportive start to the school day. School leaders report that free breakfast clubs are improving punctuality, attendance, behaviour and concentration. We have an ongoing free breakfast club programme evaluation which aims to build evidence and insights into impact on attendance for primary-age pupils.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the change in prevalence of child morning hunger in (1) early years, (2) primary school, and (3) secondary school, settings in England in the past 12 months.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The department appreciates the publication of the report and looks forward to giving it our full consideration. This government is committed to tackling child poverty and delivering meaningful action to support children and families. The removal of the two- child limit on Universal Credit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, rising to around 550,000 alongside other measures set out in our Child Poverty Strategy, such as the expansion of free school meals. These interventions will lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.
We recognise the importance of a healthy breakfast at the start of the day for pupils and the impact this can have on attendance and readiness to learn. This is why we are rolling out free breakfast clubs in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England, so that all children can have the best start in life. Since April 2025, the programme has delivered 7 million meals to almost 180,000 pupils across the country. We are investing a further £80 million to fund approximately 2,000 additional schools between April 2026 and March 2027.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings in the report by Magic Breakfast, Root causes of child morning hunger, published on 9 March.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The department appreciates the publication of the report and looks forward to giving it our full consideration. This government is committed to tackling child poverty and delivering meaningful action to support children and families. The removal of the two- child limit on Universal Credit will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, rising to around 550,000 alongside other measures set out in our Child Poverty Strategy, such as the expansion of free school meals. These interventions will lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began.
We recognise the importance of a healthy breakfast at the start of the day for pupils and the impact this can have on attendance and readiness to learn. This is why we are rolling out free breakfast clubs in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England, so that all children can have the best start in life. Since April 2025, the programme has delivered 7 million meals to almost 180,000 pupils across the country. We are investing a further £80 million to fund approximately 2,000 additional schools between April 2026 and March 2027.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by StandWithUs UK Voice of Students 2024/25, published on 7 May, and what steps they plan to take with regard to university staff who have reportedly expressed (1) antisemitic views, and (2) support for proscribed terror groups.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The report contains testimonies that are deeply concerning. I have heard first-hand from students about their experiences of antisemitism at an event in this House held on 11 March.
Universities must take reasonably practicable steps to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law. Unlawful harassment or violence, hate speech against staff and students on campus or inciting others to violence or terrorism are not protected.
Encouraging terrorism and supporting proscribed terrorist organisations are criminal offences, and higher education providers must not provide a platform for these activities. The department expects university leaders to take robust action, particularly where there are concerns that a criminal act may have been committed, including reporting crimes to the police.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will shortly host a round table to which she has invited several Vice Chancellors, many of whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
We have confirmed £7 million in funding to address antisemitism in education.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to help ensure the safety of Jewish students at universities.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The report contains testimonies that are deeply concerning. I have heard first-hand from students about their experiences of antisemitism at an event in this House held on 11 March.
Universities must take reasonably practicable steps to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law. Unlawful harassment or violence, hate speech against staff and students on campus or inciting others to violence or terrorism are not protected.
Encouraging terrorism and supporting proscribed terrorist organisations are criminal offences, and higher education providers must not provide a platform for these activities. The department expects university leaders to take robust action, particularly where there are concerns that a criminal act may have been committed, including reporting crimes to the police.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will shortly host a round table to which she has invited several Vice Chancellors, many of whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
We have confirmed £7 million in funding to address antisemitism in education.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to schools relating to the safeguarding of the children of prisoners.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All children, from whatever background and no matter what challenges they face, deserve a safe environment in which they can learn. The department recognises the impact that a parent going to prison can have on a child’s learning, behaviour, mental health and wellbeing.
The government’s ‘Keeping children safe in education 2024’ statutory guidance for schools and colleges outlines specific guidance concerning children with a family member in prison or who are affected by parental offending. The guidance asks schools to consider the additional needs of these children and highlights the risk of poor outcomes including poverty, stigma, isolation and poor mental health. It also signposts staff to the National Information Centre on Children of Offenders (NICCO) website, which provides specialist advice and resources to support professionals working with offenders’ children and their families to help mitigate negative consequences for those children. The NICCO website can be accessed here: https://www.nicco.org.uk/.
The government is committed to identifying and better supporting children of prisoners. The department will be working closely with the Ministry of Justice to deliver on this commitment.