Child Hunger in Schools Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Child Hunger in Schools

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts
Tuesday 22nd November 2022

(1 year, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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The noble Lord, as ever, makes an important point. We really are looking at that closely, not just in a school setting but, as importantly, in relation to early years and nursery settings. He will be aware that, post Covid, many children are arriving at school who are not school-ready in the way that we expected, and we are looking at that.

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Portrait Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)
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My Lords, locally sourced food could be served in schools and other local authority institutions such as prisons and hospitals. If 50% of all the food served in school meals was locally sourced, would this not reduce the cost of production?

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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I am more than happy to take that back to the department to look at. We are very focused on the standard of school food and supporting schools to give children a truly nutritious lunch each day.